Microsoft Partners with Government to Launch AI Centre of Excellence

New Delhi: Microsoft has announced a collaboration with the Indian government to set up an artificial intelligence (AI) centre of excellence. This initiative will involve various organizations from key sectors, including transport, healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education. Alongside this, Microsoft plans to train over 500,000 Indians, which includes students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs, on how to effectively use AI tools by next year.

This announcement comes shortly after Microsoft's commitment to invest $3 billion in India, which will include the establishment of data centres over the next two years. An IDC study sponsored by Microsoft indicates a significant increase in AI adoption in India, rising 12% to 72% in 2024. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted during his presentation in New Delhi that the speed of AI adoption in India is very fast, stating, “There’s not much of a distinction. I can be in Seattle or Palo Alto or I can be in Delhi or Bengaluru, it’s not that different in terms of how people are talking about and applying it (AI).”

Nadella formalized the partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of the India AI initiative spearheaded by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He also highlighted Microsoft’s three main AI platforms: Copilot, Copilot & AI stack, and Copilot Devices, detailing what these innovations could mean for businesses in India. As part of the collaborative effort, Microsoft will establish AI productivity labs in 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and NIELIT centres across 10 states to offer courses on AI training.

Additionally, the Ministry of Telecommunications announced that AI Touch LLP would receive funding under the Telecommunications Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of the Universal Service Obligation Fund, now referred to as “Digital Bharat Nidhi.” AI Touch will focus on developing components for disaggregated 5G RAN (Radio Access Network), which will include the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), Service Management and Orchestration (SMO), and Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) modules. This project aims to provide solutions that enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs for mobile network operators (MNOs), and enable new applications within the telecom sector.

The Ministry emphasized that the project would foster an innovative 5G ecosystem in India and pave the way for future advancements, facilitating intelligent control of RAN and core nodes through AI and machine learning-based applications. Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, specified that C-DOT would serve as the implementation partner ensuring that the project meets the highest technological standards.

Dr. Parag Agarwal, Deputy Director General of TTDF, highlighted the initiative’s goal to drive AI advancements while establishing a self-reliant 5G ecosystem. Amit Gupta, a partner at AI Touch, expressed the firm’s focus on utilizing AI and machine learning to develop advanced analytics and intelligent models.

Microsoft, AI, India