Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella further stated that this opportunity for upskilling will generate additional AI-focused job opportunities in India.
During his visit to India, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella unveiled a new initiative aimed at equipping over 2 million individuals in the country with AI capabilities. He emphasized that this initiative underscores Microsoft's dedication to empowering India's future workforce, potentially fostering job creation in the country.
Nadella expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I'm thrilled to announce a new skilling initiative. We're set to provide AI skills to over 2 million people in India. Ultimately, ensuring the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the new era is paramount. It's not just about acquiring skills; it's also about generating employment opportunities."
He also mentioned being inspired by his discussion with the team behind Kaarya, an Indian brand. Kaarya, a local enterprise, utilized Microsoft research in India to offer income opportunities to rural areas. He highlighted that they are leveraging AI-created opportunities to provide lucrative employment in rural India.
What is Karya?
Karya is a social enterprise that offers data services, annotation, technology, and ethical data solutions to rural Indian workers and companies. Their mission is to introduce digital employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged Indians.
Karya engages rural Indians in creating datasets by labeling, annotating, and categorizing data used for AI training, especially targeting the non-English speaking segment of the Indian population. They claim to pay rural Indians 20 times the minimum wage.
Role of AI in India's GDP
Microsoft's CEO also emphasized the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in driving India's economic growth. He noted the widespread adoption of AI by Indian companies, including Microsoft's own AI tool, Copilot. Nadella stressed that technology's significance lies in its ability to substantially contribute to economic advancement. He expressed optimism about the ambitious goals set for 2025, foreseeing AI as a key driver of growth in the Indian market.
He drew parallels between the current situation and the Industrial Revolution in the UK, highlighting how significant investments in the railroad system, amounting to 10% of the country's GDP, resulted in substantial progress. Likewise, he believes that substantial investments in emerging technologies like AI can significantly enhance a country's prospects.
Nadella expressed enthusiasm about the initial phases of AI adoption and the rapid pace at which it is expanding. He underscored AI's transformative potential for economies and emphasized the necessity of investing in this technology for future growth.
