Microsoft has unveiled an ambitious skilling initiative called ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA that aims delivering foundational and advanced AI training to 2 million Indian citizens by 2025, prioritizing tier 2/3 cities plus rural areas in the technology democratization push. Aligned with responsible AI principles, it intends catalyzing an AI-powered economy.
Microsoft India President highlighted the program’s launch during Chairman Satya Nadella’s visit this week as a landmark for unlocking inclusive growth leveraging India’s technology talent strength through partnerships with government, non-profits and industry.
Bridging AI Skills Gap for Workforce Readiness
The move addresses urgent market needs with 80% of employees feeling their present skillsets lag required AI fluencies vital for role transformations that 90% of business leaders also anticipate due to AI proliferation across sectors. Hence accessible training is pivotal.
By targeting women, youth and underserved groups through nationwide channels, Microsoft seeks empowering broad-based AI awareness and competencies at scale to maximize benefit dispersal from ongoing AI-led disruption.
Boosting Public Sector Delivery and Non-Profit Impact
Other key focus areas include upskilling 0.25 million government officers around AI adoption for enhanced public sector service delivery while enabling 7.5 lakh non-profit staff to absorb AI technologies improving socio-economic programs impact at grassroots.
The company had trained over 5,000 Indian non-profits on affordable cloud solutions over past years intending further acceleration now. With 23,000 staff and triple local cloud regions, Microsoft eyes co-innovating India’s AI leadershipstatus through collaboration.
