Microsoft will soon launch its new AI labs through which the tech giant aims to train as many as 1.5 lakh students across higher educational institutes in the country, the company said announcing its decision on Thursday.
As part of the programme, the tech giant will closely work with 10 educational institutes and will provide the needed infrastructure and guidance to the selected students.
BITS Pilani, BML Munjal University, ISB, Kalpataru Institute of Technology, KL University, Periyar University, Karunya University, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SVKM (NMIMS) and Trident Academy of Technology are among the list of chosen 10 institutes across the country.
Maintaining that AI is crucial for reskilling the workforce of tomorrow, Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari said, “As AI becomes mainstream, organisations will require talent with skill sets that are very different from what exists now. Educators and institutions are integral to the skilling revolution taking root in the country.”
Apart from designing the curriculum and giving students access to its cloud and AI services, Microsoft will also train the faculties through workshops emerging technologies and provide assistance in strategising content and curricula for project-based and experiential learning.
Booming AI and Data Science market
The move comes in the wake of growing significance of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) related skills in the current job market.
As per a study by Analytical India Magazine which studied the analytical and data science jobs in India, In early 2019 alone, the total number of analytics and data science job positions available are 97,000, thus marking a 45% jump in the open job requirements, when compared to 2018.
The AI lab is one among the number of initiatives undertaken by Microsoft to promote AI in the country. In 2018, the PC-maker joined hands with NITI Aayog to lay the foundation for the country’s AI architecture. As per the agreement, Microsoft India will support Niti Aayog by combining the cloud, AI, research across several core areas including agriculture and healthcare and the environment.
