Frugal AI: More (impact) with less (data, energy, resources, computing power)!
The Centre for India and Global Business
The best of India to the world, the best of the world to India...via Cambridge.
On November 22, 2024, Venkata "Serish" Gandikota and Elizabeth Osta organized a transformative Frugal AI Workshop at Cambridge Judge Business School, bringing together industry leaders, academics, and practitioners to explore how resource-efficient AI can deliver high impact. This workshop was done in collaboration with The Centre for India and Global Business , InnoFrugal , and #DigitalForward. This article summarizes the workshop’s key presentations and discussions, showcasing the breadth of expertise and innovation shared during the event.
Keynote Presentations
Frugal AI: Delivering More with Less
Prof Michael Barrett set the stage by defining Frugal AI as a method of delivering significant value while operating within constraints—using smaller datasets, limited computational power, and fewer resources. He emphasized how Frugal AI promotes sustainability by minimizing energy usage and highlighted examples of real-world impact, such as IoT applications and energy-efficient AI models.
The Role of Synthetic Data in Frugal AI
Ravi Bhalla , Strategic Advisor at HSBC and Former FCA Innovation Head, introduced the concept of synthetic data as a critical enabler for Frugal AI. Drawing on his experience with the Financial Conduct Authority’s Digital Sandbox, he explained how synthetic data accelerates product development, mitigates data access barriers, and fosters collaboration in regulated markets. Notable examples included projects in financial inclusion and fraud prevention.
Bringing Business Value to AI
Vinod Dayalu explored how AI adoption creates tangible business value, emphasizing that innovation lies not just in invention but in execution. He highlighted how AI can streamline supply chain management, enhance technical services, and improve customer satisfaction. Real-world examples included saving $100 million through AI-driven supply chain optimization and boosting employee productivity with agent-based AI systems.
Frugal AI in Small Businesses
Iliana Pearce from Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shared insights from her policy research on small business innovation and AI adoption. She emphasized the barriers SMEs face, such as limited knowledge, trust issues, and resource constraints. Iliana and the panel comprising of Clare Elsby and Pete Rushmer advocated for better funding, policy support, and education to help small businesses unlock AI's potential, particularly in improving productivity and reducing operational inefficiencies.
India’s Digital Infrastructure and Frugal AI
Prof. Jaideep Prabhu highlighted how India’s digital public goods, such as the Aadhaar ID system and Unified Payments Interface (UPI), embody the principles of Frugal AI. These initiatives have delivered immense value at scale by focusing on cost-efficiency, inclusivity, and open innovation. He urged governments globally to adopt similar frameworks to tackle pressing societal challenges.
The Future of Barcodes: Enabling a Circular Economy
Iain Walker from GS1 UK made the case for QR codes powered by GS1 standards are transforming supply chains. He detailed use cases such as food waste reduction, traceability, and consumer education. Examples from global retailers like Woolworths and Ocado demonstrated how QR codes can promote sustainability and improve operational efficiency.
Start-Up Corner: Innovations in Frugal AI
Sqwish
Ushnish Sengupta from Sqwish talked about prompt compression technologies to reduce AI input costs and carbon footprints. Their solutions demonstrate how Frugal AI can optimize generative and agentic AI applications for businesses.
ConveGenius
Aditya Chopra representing ConveGenius.AI showcased their Swift AI platform, which enhances education through personalized quizzes, learning assistants, and engagement tools. Their AI-driven solutions are already transforming student outcomes across 12,000 schools in four countries.
Interactive Sessions
Session 1: AI adoption for SMEs
Participants identified actionable ways for small businesses to integrate Frugal AI:
Session 2: Solving Business Challenges and Customer Adoption with AI
Discussions focused on six critical challenges:
The Road Ahead
The Frugal AI Workshop highlighted the potential of accessible and resource-efficient AI to drive innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. Moving forward, we aim to foster collaboration among industry leaders, startups, policymakers, and researchers, facilitate ongoing knowledge exchange, and support real-world applications through pilots and case studies. By advancing the principles of Frugal AI and building a vibrant community of practice, we seek to ensure that innovation remains sustainable, inclusive, and impactful.
Join Us on This Journey
Whether you are an academic, business leader, or innovator, we invite you to collaborate with us. Together, we can make AI more accessible, sustainable, and impactful. What’s your perspective on Frugal AI? Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out to explore partnerships.
It was an honor to be a part of such an insightful discussion on Frugal AI. Excited to see how this innovative approach can shape the future of technology and positively impact society.