Microsoft announces new initiative to train 2 million Indians in AI by 2025

The need is clear. Microsoft’s recent Work Trend Index found 90% of Indian business leaders say new hires will require AI skills. Yet 78% of workers lack those capabilities for their current roles.

To bridge the gap, ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA focuses on upskilling people in smaller cities and rural areas. The goal is expanding AI fluency nationwide for inclusive growth.

“The ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative is a significant step towards democratizing access to AI skills across the nation and reflects Microsoft’s deep commitment to enabling inclusive growth with technology,” said Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India & South Asia.

“India has a huge opportunity to be a global leader in AI, and creating AI fluency at scale is a critical step in that journey. This initiative aims to propel India into a promising era of AI fluency, empowering citizens across India with the right skills to thrive in the age of AI.”

The program has three main components:

– Partnering with the national government and 10 states to train 500,000 students at rural vocational centers in basic and advanced AI skills. This expands an existing collaboration on digital and cybersecurity training.

– Providing in-depth AI training for 100,000 young women through higher education institutions in smaller cities. This involves distributing Microsoft’s AI Trainer Toolkit and industry mentorships.

– Raising AI career awareness for 400,000 students in remote, tribal areas through Microsoft’s TEALS, Farm Beats and AI Guidance for Schools initiatives.

Additionally, Microsoft will help 250,000 government officers gain generative AI knowledge to deliver next-gen citizen services. It will also convene a summit for 2,500 nonprofits to leverage AI in their work, with LinkedIn.

Speaking at a conference in Mumbai, CEO Satya Nadella said, “I hope consensus emerges and that is what really helps, in some sense, (with) the diffusion of this technology,” referring to global efforts to regulate AI. He added that he hoped diffusion of AI would lead to “equal distribution of economic growth”.