Blockchain vs. generative artificial intelligence in India: A comparative study of adoption drivers, barriers, and diffusion trajectories

Abstract

Blockchain and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) are two contemporary emerging technologies that have exhibited different adoption trajectories since their inception. Blockchain technology traces its origins to 2008, when it was first conceptualized, whereas GenAI is a more recent development that entered the mainstream with the introduction of ChatGPT by OpenAI. India, as a developing economy, has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovations; however, the adoption patterns for these innovations have been notably different. Using secondary data retrieved from peer-reviewed research and systematic reviews, along with industry and market intelligence reports, this research revealed that blockchain, as a technology, adopts a bottom-up approach driven by financial inclusion imperatives and is inherently decentralized by design. GenAI, on the other hand, adopts a top-down approach, fueled by enterprise-driven adoption and rapid scaling across various sectors. Our findings suggest that the difference in their diffusion approaches is attributed to the persistent regulatory uncertainty and infrastructure constraints faced by blockchain, whereas GenAI has benefited from clearer policy support and lower entry barriers. This paper provides a frameworkbased, side-by-side comparison of two high-impact technologies in a single national context, linking micro-level adoption mechanisms to macro-level diffusion outcomes. These nuances could have significant implications for policymaking and recalibrating India’s position in the global landscape.

Funding

None.

References

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