New Delhi, February 19 Building AI capabilities is essential and not optional, as the exponential growth of the technology has the potential to be a significant event in human society, FedEx CEO Rajesh Subramanian said on Thursday.
Addressing the AI Impact Summit 2026, which was attended by a host of global corporate leaders, he said gatherings like this are critical to advancing technology and making global progress collaboratively, responsibly, and equitably.
"The recent exponential growth of AI has the potential to be one of the most significant events in human society since the advancement of electric power systems and the introduction of the internet," Subramanian said.
The CEO of the express transportation firm further said that AI is the next industrial system, a union of computing, energy, and labor that will redefine how economies operate and how humanity evolves.
"Building AI capabilities is not optional. It's essential. Intelligence is not an asset; it's infrastructure. It is the foundation for the future of global progress, productivity, and economic growth," he said.
He further said that the world is undergoing a fundamental shift, and the patterns and rules of commerce are changing.
The impacts of the pandemic and shifts in trade policy are driving towards a new period of reglobalization, he said, adding that global supply chains are moving from one equilibrium state to another.
"In my 35 years at FedEx and monitoring global trade, I have never seen such change in pace and scale. We also never had a powerful technological force to affect change. AI is a force multiplier for shaping modern supply chains in a more connected, complex, and opportunity-rich world. We have always been a data-driven company," Subramanian said.
He informed the gathering that FedEx's import tool was first developed in India to simplify international shipping for small and medium enterprises.
Their feedback helped the company design features such as predictive logistics, automated shipment tracking, and real-time customs updates, all powered by AI, he added.
On Wednesday, FedEx said it will invest over Rs 2,500 crore in setting up a 3,00,000 sq ft fully automated cargo hub at Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The facility, to be developed in collaboration with Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), will be designed as a regional consolidation and redistribution hub and will support trade flows across Southeast and West Asia, Europe, and the US, embedding global network connectivity directly within India's primary trade corridor, it said.
