Microsoft’s Advantage India program has set an ambitious goal to train 20 million Indians in AI skills by 2030. So far, the company has already provided training to 2.4 million people in India. To expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities in India, Microsoft plans to invest $3 billion (around ₹25,700 crores) over the next two years. According to the company’s Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, this investment will be the largest the company has made in India to date. During his recent visit to India, Nadella also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Microsoft offers its cloud computing services through Azure, which includes over 60 regions and more than 300 data centers worldwide. In February 2024, during his last visit to India, Nadella mentioned that the company aims to provide AI skill opportunities to 2 million people in the country by 2025. The Advantage India program is focused on training 20 million Indians in AI skills by 2030. Out of the 2.4 million people trained so far, 65% are women, and 74% come from smaller towns. This initiative is preparing India’s youth for jobs in the AI sector.Additionally, Microsoft Research Labs (MSR) has launched the AI Innovation Network to accelerate the AI ecosystem in India. This network aims to develop practical and useful business solutions based on research findings.
