India’s Richest Man Bets $11 Can Turn Old PCs Into AI Machines

Mukesh Ambani’s telecom giant, Reliance Jio, is rolling out a service that promises to breathe new life into aging personal computers by connecting them to cloud-based artificial intelligence computing power [233954]. For roughly $11 per two-month subscription, users can turn machines too slow for modern software into functional terminals for AI tasks [233954]. The old computer acts as a screen and keyboard while the heavy processing happens remotely, sidestepping the need for expensive internal chips [233954]. The strategy targets millions of budget-conscious consumers and small businesses, lowering the entry barrier to AI adoption and offering a cheaper local alternative to expensive hardware from global tech firms [233954]. While the service’s performance on very old machines remains untested, the core promise is that users do not need a new computer to access new AI tools [233954]. If successful, the move could turn discarded devices into useful tools and strengthen Ambani’s position in India’s digital market [233954].