CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, says the tech giant is committed to training India’s youth in artificial intelligence (AI) skills, announcing this during the Microsoft CEO Connection event held on 7th February in Mumbai.
During the event, Nadella announced that Microsoft plans to train 2 million students, job seekers, and women through the company’s ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative by 2025. The initiative is part of part of Microsoft’s Skills for Jobs program, and aims to empower India’s workforce with future-ready skills and accelerate the country’s AI transformation.
Aligned with Microsoft’s responsible AI principles, the ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative will provide training in partnership with governments, non-profit organizations, and corporate entities, focusing on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well as rural areas.
According to Microsoft’s recent Work Trend Index, 90% of Indian leaders believe that new skills are necessary to prepare for the growth of AI, while 78 percent of Indian workers feel they lack the required AI capabilities for their current work.
Smt. Trishaljit Sethi, Director General (Training) at the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, noted that the Ministry will “stay dedicated to realising the potential of the AI era for India, in partnership with Microsoft and others.”
He added that “this commitment involves equipping the youth with skills through training in tools that redefine how people work, connect, address real-world challenges, and live. Our institutions like ITIs, NSTIs, and our skilling platform are driving the skilling mission for the youth.”
President of Microsoft India & South Asia, Puneet Chandok, stated that the ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative gives India an opportunity to become a global leader in AI. To achieve this, creating AI fluency at scale is essential.
The ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative will focus on three key areas:
- Equipping India’s Future Workforce: Microsoft will partner with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and 10 state governments to provide basic and advanced AI training to 500,000 students and job seekers in 100 rural vocational education institutions and training centres. Additionally, 100,000 young women will receive in-depth AI technical skills training through 5,000 trainers at higher education institutions.
- Strengthening AI Capability of Government Officers: Microsoft will collaborate with India’s National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building to equip 250,000 government officers with essential knowledge of generative AI, enhancing productivity and transforming digital governance in rural India.
- Enabling Non-profit Organizations: Microsoft and LinkedIn will convene the India Non-profit Leaders Summit in April 2024 to enable 2,500 non-profits and NGOs to leverage AI skilling resources. This summit aims to train 750,000 learners, including underserved youths, young women, and jobseekers, in AI fluency and technical skills.
Also present at the Microsoft event, COO of Tata STRIVE, Ameya Vanjari, highlighted the importance of building a diverse and inclusive talent pool in the AI domain. Tata STRIVE is partnering with Microsoft to train students and connect them with job opportunities or internships, particularly focusing on young women and girls.
By Derrick Kafui Deti – Digital Economy Magazine