Amazon’s Top Legal Executive David Zapolsky Honoured at KIIT; Highlights India’s Rising AI Leadership
By Swagatika Mohapatra
Bhubaneswar,Feb.26 : Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) on Friday presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to David A. Zapolsky, Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer of Amazon, at a special function held on campus.
The ceremony was attended by KIIT and KISS founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta, senior university officials and representatives from Amazon India.
During an engaging interaction with KIIT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saranjit Singh, Zapolsky spoke at length about Amazon’s expanding presence in India, the fast-evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and his advice for students preparing to enter a technology-driven world.
Emphasising India’s strategic importance in Amazon’s global roadmap, Zapolsky noted that the company has invested close to $40 billion in the country over the years, spanning data infrastructure, logistics and cloud services. With operational data centres in Mumbai and Hyderabad, Amazon last year pledged an additional $35 billion to further scale up its India operations.
“India is playing a defining role in shaping the global AI narrative. Few countries have articulated their AI ambitions as clearly. Our responsibility is to build the infrastructure that enables those aspirations,” he remarked.
Zapolsky also announced Amazon’s collaboration with the Government of India to broaden AI and STEM education, aiming to reach nearly 40 million students in public schools nationwide. The initiative seeks to equip young learners with future-ready digital and AI skills.
Touching upon corporate social responsibility, he said companies should align their CSR programmes with their inherent strengths. In Amazon’s case, he added, its technological capabilities and supply chain expertise are being leveraged to support disaster response initiatives and sustainability efforts.
On AI regulation, Zapolsky stressed the need for balanced and forward-looking policies. While acknowledging that AI adoption is still unfolding, he underlined that effective regulatory frameworks and strong compliance mechanisms would be crucial to ensure responsible and ethical deployment of emerging technologies.
Sharing insights from his own unconventional journey — from aspiring scientist and musician to a prosecutor in Brooklyn and eventually a senior executive at Amazon — he encouraged students to focus on purpose rather than prestige. “Trust your instincts and pursue what genuinely excites you. Passion often opens doors that planning alone cannot,” he said.
He urged students to remain curious and adaptable, noting that long-term success is built on continuous learning and alignment with personal values.
Later, Zapolsky visited the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) campus, where he interacted with students and lauded the institution’s work in advancing tribal education and empowerment.
