JanAI, the rural-first artificial intelligence initiative by the Head Held High Foundation, has released India’s first large-scale, primary-survey-based report on AI awareness, adoption, and aspirations among rural youth.
The report, titled Youth AI Aspirations & Adoption Report (YouGraf.JanAI), was unveiled at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi.
The survey, covering 3,005 rural youth, shows that 55% use AI almost daily, 28% occasionally, and 17% are non-users.
The report also noted that 46% of young respondents rely on AI for language translation and 33% for writing support. “For many, AI is helping them compete in classrooms, job applications and online marketplaces where language barriers offer limited access. Young people describe using AI to measure up and step up in environments that previously felt out of reach,” the report read.
Furthermore, the survey revealed that “as many as 90% expressed interest in a government-certified AI course and 61% believe such certification would improve their employment prospects.”
“The launch of the YouGraf report at the AI India Impact Summit marks an important milestone in our journey to place rural youth at the centre of India’s AI transformation,” said Madan Padaki, founder of JanAI.
Reacting to the report, Kanishka Chatterjee, Advisor, The/Nudge Institute, said, “The report shows very high awareness of AI, consistent daily AI use, and largely youth feeling AI is meant for them. Yet, only 14% use it for earning.”
“As someone working at the intersection of AI and women’s digital livelihoods, this gap is decisive. Youth are using AI to study and express; far fewer are using it to earn. The next phase must convert access into structured, local, livelihood-linked pathways—especially for young women in small-town India.”
In the last year alone, JanAI has brought together nearly 100 partners across government, academia, startups, corporates, and NGOs at a district level in the country.
“By 2029, our goal as a collaborative is to build AI literacy among 50 million citizens, equip two million students with AI skills, enable 1,000 AI startups to develop specific district-level solutions,” Padaki added.
JanAI is a national initiative to democratise artificial intelligence across rural and underserved India, positioning AI as a tool for self-reliance, livelihoods, and local problem-solving rather than elite or urban-only advancement. The initiative focuses on spreading AI literacy across the country.
Over the last few months, JanAI has signed major partnerships and MoUs with district-level administrations in various districts across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. JanAI has also been involved in state government partnerships across Karnataka and Telangana.
“We have covered over 50 districts in 16 states, imparting basic AI skills and literacy training to over 75,000 youth and citizens,” Padaki told AIM in a note.
Last year, JanAI also completed its first AI certification program in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, where participants were felicitated at an event in IIIT Dharwad.
In the run-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, JanAI hosted five official pre-summit events across Karnataka and Rajasthan, engaging over 2,000 participants.
“Over the next three years, JanAI will bridge the digital divide by bringing AI literacy, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity to 200 underprivileged districts across India, creating a grassroots AI revolution that generates ₹50,000 crore in tracked economic value while positively impacting 50 million lives,” Padaki said.
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