Google signs letter of intent with India’s premier planning body to develop AI ecosystem

• NITI Aayog and Google aim to help foster India’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning ecosystem.
• Google may incubate and train AI startups.
  
• Google may also offer online training programmes and provide financial support for PhD students pursuing a thesis in AI.

India’s policy commission, NITI Aayog, and Google have signed a letter of intent that stipulates that the tech giant will help develop the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning ecosystem in India. The plan that has been put forth will aid growth through three avenues, namely, training initiatives, support for startups and encouraging research and development (R&D) in AI.

Training will occur within the digital space with Google’s training courses available online to students, graduates and engineers across multiple cities. The courses will be available in different forms, so that students can choose if they prefer study groups or developer run courses.

With respect to AI startups, reports suggest that Google will incubate and work with participants to give them the resources required. Aside from Google, the company’s affiliates may also be roped in to help with business models that are best suited for a particular technology.

To encourage R&D in AI, Google will provide scholarships for PhD students who’re working on AI and machine learning for their thesis. According to Amitabh Kant, CEO at NITI Aayog, “All of which (all the initiatives) contribute to the larger idea of technologically empowered new India.”

So, how does NITI Aayog fit in?

NITI Aayog is the arm of the government that has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting national-level initiatives that will aid research and development in frontier technologies. One of those technologies happens to be AI.

So, NITI Aayog is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do which is, making partnerships to help India embrace ‘future technologies’. Between the two groups, they plan on organising an AI and machine learning hackathon that will focus on solving India’s social, economics and health issues. As per Kant’s statement, “India, in particular, is uniquely poised in utilising AI to innovate for social and inclusive good.”

AI and ‘smart’ technology are still in their infancy in India. Amazon and Google may have their smart speakers available, but even they have a long way to go before their devices can function flawlessly in the Indian ecosystem. Companies like Ericsson have more industry oriented applications of smart technology with projects to help clean up the Ganges.