Microsoft recently demonstrated the progress on its #AIforALL vision for India to fuel artificial intelligence (AI) in the country for economic and social growth. The tech giant is setting up AI labs in 10 universities, training 500,000 youth, and upskilling over 10,000 developers over the next three years.
The aim is to encourage all the organizations and individuals across the country with digital transformation. For that Microsoft has collaborated with stakeholders across public and private sectors, civil society and academia in India. These efforts will develop right conditions for human-centered AI.
“The next wave of innovation for India is being driven by the tech intensity of companies – how you combine rapid adoption of cutting-edge tech with your company’s own distinctive tech and business capabilities,” said Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India.
“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.”
Having said that, following are the pillars of Microsoft’s #AIforALL vision for India.
1. Accelerating digital transformation
Microsoft is using cloud and AI technologies for developing innovations that can enable digital transformation in the country. The focus is on core industries like manufacturing and financial services. These industries are important for economical growth of the country.
As per Microsoft, over 700 business and government organizations have already embraced its AI solutions. 60% of these organizations are large businesses in manufacturing and financial services.
Microsoft India currently has 715 partners who are helping customers in implementing the AI strategy. The AI strategy will improve employee productivity, increase business agility, and boost customer engagement.
2. Building partnerships to create collective approach
For responsible innovation in AI that can address the needs and expectations of citizens, Microsoft is collaborating with government, industry, academic and civil society stakeholders.
For instance, the partnership with NITI Aayog for integrating cloud, AI, and research to bring digital transformation to agriculture and healthcare.
3. Providing necessary skills
For economic growth, it is important to develop talent pipelines with necessary skills. On that front, the tech giant is setting up AI labs in universities, training youth, and providing required skills to developers.
Recently, it had also launched a new program called Intelligent Cloud Hub under which Microsoft will establish AI infrastructure and IoT hubs for specific education institutions and research firms in India.
Also read: Microsoft digitally empowers weavers in India with new ecommerce platform
4. Addressing societal challenges
Microsoft AI technologies will create sustained impact on societal challenges, like using AI for early detection of cardiac diseases. These efforts will include healthcare, agriculture, education, supporting humanitarian action, local language computing environmental sustainability, and accessibility opportunities.
