Microsoft Launches ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA

Microsoft Launches ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA .Microsoft has announced a major skilling initiative in India, aiming to equip 2 million people with artificial intelligence (AI) skills by 2025. The initiative, called ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA, is part of Microsoft’s Skills for Jobs program, which is designed to empower India’s workforce with future-ready skills.

Microsoft Launches ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA The initiative is part of Microsoft’s broader commitment to accelerate India’s AI transformation and enable inclusive socio-economic growth. The skilling initiative is aligned with the company’s responsible AI principles, and training will be delivered in partnership with governments, nonprofit and corporate organizations, and communities.

According to Microsoft’s recent Work Trend Index, 90 percent of Indian leaders say the people they hire will need new skills to prepare them for the growth of AI. Furthermore, 78 percent of Indian workers say they don’t have the right AI capabilities to complete their current work.

To address this needs gap, ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA will focus on training individuals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, as well as rural areas, enabling people to participate in the new era of AI and unlock inclusive socio-economic progress.

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, Microsoft 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.

Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India & South Asia, said, “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.

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.”

Microsoft has launched a skilling initiative in India, called ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA, to train 2 million people in AI by 2025. The initiative is part of Microsoft’s Skills for Jobs program and its commitment to accelerate India’s AI transformation and enable inclusive growth. The initiative will focus on training individuals in smaller cities and rural areas, in partnership with governments, nonprofits and businesses. The initiative will also help government officers, nonprofits and students to leverage AI in their work and careers. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and president of Microsoft India & South Asia Puneet Chandok expressed their hopes and vision for the initiative.

The impact of ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA on India’s economy could be significant, as the initiative aims to train 2 million people in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2025. By equipping India’s workforce with AI skills, the initiative could help boost productivity, innovation, and growth across various sectors and industries .Furthermore, the initiative could help India achieve its sustainable development goals by leveraging AI for social good, such as improving education, health, agriculture, and environment.