Government of India and Microsoft partnered, Rs 25,000 crore will be invested
AI: The two entities will set up AI Productivity Labs in 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in 10 states, which will provide basic courses of AI to 20,000 teachers. Focused on promoting digital, cloud, and AI innovation in Indian Railways and the public sector.
On Wednesday, Microsoft announced partnerships with the Government of India and industry leaders in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made this announcement on the second day of his AI tour in New Delhi. Nadella had announced an investment of $3 billion, about Rs 25,753 crore to develop AI infrastructure in India. The company also said that AI usage in India has grown more than the global average between 2023 and 2024.
The Redmond-based technology company gave information about its various partnerships in a newsroom post. Microsoft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of India and leading companies such as RailTel, Apollo Hospitals, Bajaj Finserv, Mahindra Group, and upGrad. All these partnerships are focused on cloud and AI innovation.
According to a study conducted by IDC for Microsoft, AI usage in India was 63 percent in 2023, which increased to 72 percent in 2024. The report also revealed that many organizations are increasing productivity by using AI, with 79 percent using AI to increase productivity and 66 percent using it for business cases. Seeing this potential, Microsoft formally revealed its strategic partnerships with various partners in India.
Microsoft and Bharat AI, under Digital India Corporation, have signed an agreement. The collaboration aims to promote AI and emerging technologies in India. Under this partnership, AI-related skills will be imparted to 5,00,000 people by 2026, including students, teachers, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs.
It plans to establish an AI Centre of Excellence, 'AI Catalysts', in association with Bharat AI. The aim is to promote AI innovation at the grassroots level and empower 1,00,000 AI developers and innovators in the country. The facility will lead these initiatives through hackathons, community solutions, and a marketplace with an AI focus.
Both entities will also establish AI Productivity Labs across 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in 10 states, imparting AI basics courses to 20,000 teachers. Lean towards the development of digital, cloud, and AI innovation in Indian Railways and the public sector.
