Microsoft has taken the amalgamation of AI into its business very seriously. Earlier it was backing OpenAI, then very recently the inclusion of the “Copilot” key and now the recent announcement wherein the company has announced the launch of its upskilling initiative ‘AI Odyssey’ wherein the company aims to train as many as 1 Lakh Indian developer on the latest AI technologies and tools.
Microsoft’s ‘AI Odyssey’
As per a statement, Microsoft said that with such initiatives, the company wants and aims to provide the opportunities to various developers in order to build solutions for the growth of country as well as to showcase the talent to solve real world problems.
There are two different levels in the month-long upskilling programme, which the participants must cover before the end of January 2024.
The first level includes the understanding of usage of Azure AI services to create and deploy AI solutions for different scenarios. This shall impart them the access to Microsoft resources, code samples, and guides to AI skills. In the second level, the freshly acquired AI skills shall be tested in an online assessment with interactive lab tasks that earns them Microsoft Applied Skills credentials.
This new verifiable credential would validate their ability to solve real world problems with AI.
Managing Director of Microsoft India, Irina Ghose said that “AI is the future of innovation and India is leading the way with its tech talent. The Microsoft Applied Skills credential will help developers demonstrate their competence and creativity in the most in-demand AI skills and scenarios.”
The participants who complete the two pronged AI Odyssey shall also get the chance to win a VIP Pass to attend Microsoft’s AI Tour in Bengaluru on February 8,2024.
It was in the September 2023, that the company started its AI tour from New York. There are two different variations that cater to the different sets of professionals.
It shall be on January 31, 2024 that the company shall be hosting a tour to Mumbai, wherein it shall be hosting the senior decision-makers and industry experts on AI.
When the tour reaches the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru, it shall then be that the company hosts developers, data scientists and cutting-edge technologists to explore AI further.
Focus on AI & AI Talent in India
This development comes at the time when the success of ChatGPT has taken the world by the storm and led to the Gen AI revolution. While the world prepares for the Gen AI wave, India is prepping up for the nurturing of the fastest growing AI talent pools in the world. This is pivotal since many companies and startups around the globe are adopting GenAI to launch new services and features.
Due to this, there a focus on enhancing the AI talent. In addition to rolling out AI tools in India, they have also shortlisted 20 AI-first startups in the seed to Series A stage for the eighth batch of its startup accelerator in India.
Last year, in order to foster collaboration in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, Meta has also partnered with the government of India.
Speaking of the India and AI startups, then India is home to more than 70 GenAI startups that raised capital in excess of $440 Mn between 2019 and Q3 2023.
By 2023, the Indian GenAI market was at $1.1 Bn and by 2030 it is expected to grow to a market size of $17 Bn by 2030.
