Google, MeitY Startup Hub to train 10,000 Indian startups in AI

At the Google I/O Summit in Bengaluru, the company announced that it is working with MeitY Startup Hub to train 10,000 startups in AI. 

As part of the project, Google is offering mentorship, expertise, and skills to businesses through Appscale Academy and Startup School, as well as AI-first programming and curriculum.

Additionally, the tech giant will give businesses up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits to invest in the cloud computing and infrastructure needed for AI development and application.

“These collaborations are a part of our efforts to help the next generation of startups and developers  to solve real-world challenges,” said Ambharish Kenghe, vice president of Google Pay. “We are also reorienting our existing programs, like the Startup School and AppScale Academy, to be AI-first.”

In an exclusive interaction with AIM, general manager and vice president of Google Chem Golberg said, "This is my first visit to India, and I was very impressed with the level of innovation and new ideas, especially from startups that have been able to grow".

Kenghe also announced a nationwide Gen AI Hackathon and an AI startup boot camp and a three-month immersive experience in partnership with MeitY Startup Hub and the Startup India initiative between August and October.

For Developers

Additionally, Google released additional developer tools and improvements, such Google Wallet APIs, to make it easier to integrate gift cards, tickets, and loyalty programmes. It also introduced India-specific pricing for the Google Maps Platform, with up to 70 per cent lower costs on most APIs. 

Collaborating with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Google is offering developers building for ONDC up to 90 per cent off on select Google Maps Platform APIs, in an effort to make it more affordable and accessible.