The keynote address was delivered by Professor Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, on “Human Flourishing in the Age of AI” and the vision for a Global South coalition for transition infrastructure. The panel discussion was moderated by Sidharth Madaan, Partner & Managing Director, BCG, and featured Yolynd Lobo, Director and Head of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Google Cloud India; Arunkumar Pillai, CEO, NSDC; Rakesh Kaul, Technology Consulting Partner, EY; and Dr. Neena Pahuja, Former Executive Member, NCVET, who shared insights on building AI capabilities anchored in talent, trust and technology.

The session concluded with a compelling live demonstration by Sunil Kumar, Lead Engineer – Machine Learning, Google, on “Scaling Creative with GCP GenMedia,” showcasing how GenMedia models can generate production-ready assets, enable immersive AI-driven creative workflows, and transform conceptual ideas into scalable, real-world applications.

The session was also graced by Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, who actively engaged with participants, shared her perspectives on aligning AI skilling with national priorities, and emphasised the importance of building a talent ecosystem rooted in trust, inclusivity and industry relevance. Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, also visited the Skill India Pavilion, where she interacted with exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge innovations in skilling, digital learning, and AI-enabled training solutions. She engaged in detailed discussions with industry partners and training providers, appreciating their efforts in aligning emerging technologies with inclusive and outcome-driven skill development.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Bhaskar Chakravorti of the Fletcher School, Tufts University, highlighted that the future of AI leadership will be determined not only by technological capability, but by trust frameworks, digital public infrastructure and the strength of national talent pipelines. He noted that India’s experience in building inclusive, population-scale digital systems gives it a distinctive advantage in designing AI that is equitable, accessible and trusted.

The panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Sidharth Madaan of BCG, featured Ms. Yolynd Lobo of Google Cloud India, Mr. Arunkumar Pillai of NSDC, Mr. Rakesh Kaul of EY and Dr. Neena Pahuja of NCVET. The conversation focused on how AI is reshaping skilling ecosystems, institutional preparedness and workforce pathways. 

Mr. Arunkumar Pillai, CEO, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) underlined that AI is not merely a subject of instruction but an enabler of delivery, functioning as trainer, assessor and career guide. Through AI awareness programmes, the SOAR initiative and AI-enabled capabilities within the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), learners are now benefiting from personalised pathways, real-time labour market insights and outcome-based assessments. 

Dr. Neena Pahuja outlined a structured three-tier framework – AI for All, AI for Many and AI for Few, to build capabilities from foundational literacy to advanced specialisation. She shared that SOAR registrations have crossed two lakh learners and highlighted the rollout of nano-credentials, stackable pathways and modular qualifications aligned with the National Credit Framework. She mentioned that our ITIs are also integrating short-duration AI modules to enhance productivity across traditional trades.

Mr. Rakesh Kaul stressed that the central question is not whether AI will transform work, but how institutions anticipate and manage that shift through responsible innovation and risk preparedness. Ms. Yolynd Lobo emphasized the need to expand domestic compute capacity, deepen partnerships and connect AI solutions across value chains, ensuring inclusion from agriculture to creative industries.

The session concluded with a shared commitment to collaborative action between government, academia and industry to ensure that India’s AI journey remains human-centric, inclusive and globally competitive.

The partnership prepares individuals for advanced roles in AI. It equips India’s workforce – especially women and young people – with skills for higher-value careers as AI changes traditional jobs.

This collaboration will provide:

●      AI and Automation Training: Hands-on technical skills training in scalable programs.

●      Certifications and Scholarships: Financial support for recognized AI and automation certifications.

●      Technology Access: Automation Anywhere’s Agentic AI and automation platform.

●      Builder Networks: Connection with the Automation Anywhere Pathfinder community and the AI Kiran Builders Community (100,000+ innovators).

●      Recognition: Opportunities through the 10,000 Women in AI Stories initiative and Global AI Builders Awards.

●      Leadership Opportunities: Advancement through the AI Kiran INK Fellowship.

AI Kiran provides foundational skills training, shares real-world success stories, offers awards and advanced fellowships, and creates opportunities for policy discussions to build inclusive AI.

“AI is redefining how value is created in the world. We have an opportunity to ensure everyone can participate in this transformation.  Our partnership with Automation Anywhere creates structured, scalable pathways for women and young people to step into leadership within the AI economy. If we design this moment well, we will not just reskill a workforce – we will shape a generation of builders, innovators, and decision-makers.” said Kirthiga Reddy & Lakshmi Pratury, Co-founders of AI Kiran.

Automation Anywhere has long used AI to improve worker roles and increase capabilities for workers and businesses. This partnership brings that focus to India’s growing AI sector.

“Automation Anywhere works to create an inclusive AI future where anyone can build AI solutions and help shape the Autonomous Enterprise,” said Mihir Shukla, CEO and board chairman of Automation Anywhere. “We provide the essential skills and leading Agentic AI platform to help women and youth secure high-value careers and drive real business outcomes using AI.”

This partnership sets a precedent for how global collaborations can prepare nations for the AI-driven future. As the program expands beyond India, it aims to create a skilled workforce ready to shape AI’s worldwide impact by 2030.