IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division under the Digital India Corporation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to promote the adoption and development of artificial intelligence (AI) in India. This collaboration aligns with the core objectives of the IndiaAI Mission, aiming to foster innovation, enhance skill development, and drive AI adoption across various sectors for inclusive growth and economic transformation.
As part of this strategic partnership, Microsoft and IndiaAI plan to skill 500,000 individuals by 2026. The initiative will include students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs, ensuring a diverse and inclusive approach to AI education and empowerment. Additionally, the partnership will establish “AI Catalysts,” a Center of Excellence, to foster rural AI innovation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Through hackathons, community-building efforts, and an AI marketplace, the initiative aims to equip 100,000 AI innovators and developers.
To further expand AI learning, 20 AI Productivity Labs will be set up in National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and NIELIT centers across 10 states. These labs will train 20,000 educators and provide foundational AI courses to 100,000 students in 200 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The collaboration will also focus on developing AI solutions for critical sectors by leveraging Microsoft Research (MSR)’s expertise.
Microsoft’s Founders Hub program will extend its resources to up to 1,000 AI startups under the IndiaAI Mission. Startups will benefit from Azure credits, business resources, and mentorship, fostering innovation and strengthening India’s startup ecosystem. Furthermore, the partnership will work on developing foundational AI models with Indic language support to address India’s linguistic diversity and unique cultural requirements.
A robust datasets platform will be developed to support IndiaAI’s objectives, including tools for dataset curation, annotation, and synthetic data generation. The partnership will also focus on creating frameworks, standards, and evaluation metrics for responsible AI development. This effort will support the establishment of an AI Safety Institute in India, ensuring the ethical and secure use of AI technologies.
The collaboration between IndiaAI and Microsoft reflects a shared vision of leveraging AI for inclusive and sustainable development. By prioritizing skilling, fostering entrepreneurship, and advancing responsible AI practices, the partnership aims to address large-scale challenges, empower communities, and position India as a global leader in AI innovation and adoption.
