In a significant move, India’s Union Cabinet has given the green light to the “IndiaAI Mission,” backed by an initial budget of 10,300 crore rupees ($1.24 billion).
The ambitious mission aims to provide substantial support to artificial intelligence (AI) startups and foster innovations over the next five years. Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced this transformative initiative on March 7th during a cabinet briefing.
The IndiaAI Mission has a multifaceted approach, aiming to facilitate nationwide access to crucial computing power, an indispensable element for AI development and deployment. The overarching goal is to structure the implementation of the mission through a public-private partnership model, nurturing India’s AI innovation ecosystem.
The mission comprises seven key components, with a focus on democratizing compute capacity, developing indigenous large multimodal models (LMMs), streamlining access to quality non-personal data sets, and fostering the creation of AI applications.
Crucial Computing Resources for Startups
One of the pivotal components involves establishing an AI computing infrastructure boasting 10,000 or more graphics processing units (GPUs). This initiative, developed through public-private partnerships, aims to provide critical resources to AI startups, propelling their growth and development.
The IndiaAI Mission extends its impact to the educational sector by introducing AI courses, ensuring a skilled workforce capable of contributing to the burgeoning AI landscape.
Additionally, the mission includes financial support for deep-tech AI startups, recognizing the need for sustained investment in groundbreaking technologies. Furthermore, safety nets around AI advancements will be woven, emphasizing responsible development and deployment practices.
A high school in Kerala, India, has made history by appointing an artificial intelligence AI humanoid teacher named Iris to provide personalized education experiences for students.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his optimism about the mission’s potential to empower AI startups and expand access to essential compute infrastructure. He sees this as a monumental leap toward establishing India as a global leader in AI innovation.
The government believes that advancements in AI will not only contribute to economic expansion but also create highly skilled employment opportunities.
In a related development, on March 1, the Indian government issued an advisory requiring tech companies to obtain prior approval before releasing newly developed AI tools. The advisory emphasizes that the availability of these tools on the Indian internet should be done with explicit permission from the Government of India.
Additionally, platforms are urged to ensure that their AI tools do not pose a threat to the integrity of the electoral process, with general elections anticipated in the summer of 2024.
The approval of the IndiaAI Mission marks a pivotal moment in India’s journey to foster AI innovation. With a substantial budget and a comprehensive strategy, the mission aims to not only provide essential resources to startups but also cultivate a conducive environment for AI advancements.