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BUSINESS EYE FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | The Indian Eye 34

Microsoft eyes Indian developers in

a big way for global AI innovation

Satya Nadella announces Microsoft’s investment will provide 2 million people in India with AI
skilling opportunities by 2025 through its ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative

OUR BUREAU
Bengaluru/Mumbai
icrosoft chairman and chief executive
officer Satya Nadella, who was in India
Mthis week, highlighted the pivotal role
of the country’s developer community in build-
ing cutting-edge products and solutions that solve
challenges for the nation and can be deployed
around the world. In an address to 1,100 devel-
opers and technology leaders at the Microsoft AI
Tour in Bengaluru on Thursday, Nadella spoke
about the impact Indian developers are making in
accelerating AI innovation globally.

“This next generation of AI is changing how
and what developers build everywhere, in-
cluding in India,” said Satya Nadella, chair-
man and CEO, Microsoft. “It’s fantastic to Microsoft Corporation Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi (ANI)

see how India’s developer community is ap-
plying our technology and tools to build the in the AI era. The investment will see Microsoft Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida, and Pune.
future for India and the world,” Nadella said. provide 2 million people in India with AI skilling According to Microsoft’s recent Work Trend
opportunities by 2025 through its ADVANTA(I) Index, 90 percent of Indian leaders say the peo-
GE INDIA initiative. ple they hire will need new skills to prepare them
Further, he said India is the fastest-growing The ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative for the growth of AI. Furthermore, 78 percent of
market on GitHub, a Microsoft-owned software will focus on three key areas to create AI fluen- Indian workers say they don’t have the right AI ca-
collaboration and innovation platform. About cy - Equipping India’s future workforce, upskilling pabilities to complete their current work.
13.2 million developers are using the platform. It government officials in AI and working to build In addition, Microsoft will provide in-depth
is expected to overtake the US as the largest de- the AI capability of nonprofit organizations. AI technical skills training for 100,000 young wom-
veloper community on GitHub by 2027. India also To deliver ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA, Mic- en through 5,000 trainers at higher education insti-
has the second-highest number of generative AI rosoft will partner with India’s Ministry of Skill tutions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
projects on GitHub after the US. Development and Entrepreneurship and 10 state As part of the initiative, Microsoft will raise
Nadella also said that Microsoft will expand governments to provide basic and advanced train- awareness of responsible AI use and AI-enabled
its Code; Without Barriers program to India this ing in AI to 500,000 students and job seekers in careers for 400,000 students in schools in remote
month, as the company aims to democratize ac- 100 rural vocational education institutions and and tribal regions, enabling them to be next-gen-
cess to tech skills nationwide. training centers. eration AI innovators.
The program was launched in 2021 across In addition, Microsoft will provide in-depth Microsoft will strengthen its partnership with
nine Asia Pacific (APAC) countries to help close AI technical skills training for 100,000 young wom- India’s National Programme for Civil Services Ca-
the gender gap in the region’s fast-growing cloud, en through 5,000 trainers at higher education insti- pacity Building, equipping 250,000 government
AI, and digital technology sectors. The program tutions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. officers with essential knowledge of generative AI
provides support, training, and networking op- As part of the initiative, Microsoft will raise and increasing their AI fluency.
portunities for female developers and coders, and awareness of responsible AI use and AI-enabled It will enable 2,500 nonprofits and nongov-
those in other technical roles to contribute to in- careers for 400,000 students in schools in remote ernment organizations to leverage AI skilling re-
clusive economic growth, encourage innovation, and tribal regions, enabling them to be next-gen- sources and technologies to further train 750,000
and reflect the region’s social makeup. Through eration AI innovators, among others. learners - including underserved youths, young
Code; Without Barriers, Microsoft will provide About Microsoft, the global technology com- women, and jobseekers - in AI fluency and tech-
skilling and certification to 75,000 women devel- pany’s entities have over 23,000 employees in nical skills.
opers in India in 2024. India who are engaged in sales and marketing, Microsoft offers its global cloud services from
In a major announcement, Nadella an- research, development, customer support, and in- local datacenters to accelerate digital transforma-
nounced Microsoft’s new skilling investment in In- dustry solutions across 10 Indian cities - Ahmed- tion across Indian startups, businesses, and gov-
dia to empower people and organizations to thrive abad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurugram, ernment organizations.

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