No ‘Artificial’ Intent: Microsoft To Set Up AI Labs In 10 Universities; Train 10,000 Indian Developers, 5 Lakh Youth

To bridge the skills gap and enhance employability, Microsoft India will skill over ten thousand developers, set up artificial intelligence labs in ten universities and train over five lakh youth across the country over the next three years.

Along with these initiatives, the company has also recently announced the Intelligent Cloud Hub Program which will “equip research and higher education institutions with AI infrastructure, build curriculum and help both faculty and students to build their skills and expertise in cloud computing, data sciences, AI and IoT.”

The technology giant, maker of the ubiquitous Windows and Office software, has partnered with Indian government's premier think-tank, NITI Aayog, to use the cloud, AI, research and its vertical expertise in sectors like agriculture and healthcare and the environment.

“We believe AI will enable Indian businesses and more for India’s progress, especially in education, skilling, healthcare and agriculture. Microsoft also believes that it is imperative to build higher awareness and capabilities on security, privacy, trust and accountability. The power of AI is just beginning to be realized and can be a game-changer for India,” said Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India.

A Vibrant Ecosystem

According to NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies), India added around 1200 new startups in 2018, up 20 per cent from last year when it added 1000 startups.

The report added that startups working on Data Analytics, IoT (Internet of Things) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) had witnessed the fastest adoption across different industry verticals.

Also Read: The Indian Judicial System Needs An Artificial Intelligence Revolution