January 8th 2025.
In a recent announcement, it was revealed that the Indian government's artificial intelligence program, IndiaAI, has joined forces with Microsoft to train 5 lakh individuals by 2026. These individuals include students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs, all of whom will receive training on AI.
Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, shared that the company's CEO Satya Nadella has pledged a USD 3 billion investment towards building tech, infrastructure, and AI capacity, as well as fostering human capital in India. Last year, Microsoft had announced plans to train 20 lakh people, and they have already surpassed that goal by training 24 lakh individuals. Now, they have set their sights on training 1 crore people over the next five years. As part of this mission, they have signed an MoU with IndiaAI, and 5 lakh individuals will receive training through this collaboration.
The Indian government has also taken steps to develop the AI ecosystem in the country, with an approved budget of Rs 10,372 crore for the next five years. As part of the partnership, 20 National Skill Training Institutes and NIELIT centers will establish AI Productivity Labs in 10 states. These labs will train 20,000 educators and empower 1 lakh students with foundational AI courses in 200 Industrial Training Institutes.
Chandok also shared that Microsoft and the government will establish a Center of Excellence, called "AI Catalysts," to promote rural AI innovation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This initiative will equip 1 lakh innovators and developers through hackathons, community building, and an AI marketplace.
Additionally, Microsoft's Founders Hub program will provide benefits, such as Azure credits, business resources, and mentorship, to up to 1,000 AI startups under the IndiaAI mission. This will foster innovation and growth in India's startup ecosystem.
The collaboration between Microsoft and IndiaAI will also focus on developing foundational models with Indic language support to address the country's linguistic diversity and unique requirements. This will ensure that AI solutions are culturally and contextually relevant.
Furthermore, the two parties will work together to create frameworks, standards, and evaluation metrics for responsible AI development. They will also support the establishment of an AI safety institute in India, emphasizing the importance of ethical and responsible AI practices.
Overall, this partnership between IndiaAI and Microsoft marks a significant step towards building a strong AI ecosystem in India and empowering individuals with AI skills, ultimately driving innovation and growth in the country.
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