The Artificial Intelligence unit IndiaAI and Microsoft have partnered to train 5 lakh people, which includes students, instructors, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs on artificial intelligence by 2026, a senior company official said on Wednesday.

Microsoft India and South Asia president, Puneet Chandok told PTI that the $3 billion investment announced by Microsoft’s Chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Satya Nadella will be on building tech, infrastructure and AI capacity and also on building the human capital in this country.

"We had announced training for 20 lakh people last year. We have already trained 24 lakh. We have announced to train 1 crore people over the next five years. We have also signed an MoU with IndiaAI mission and as part of that, 5 lakh people will be trained," Chandok said.

The government in March 2024 approved Rs 10,372 crore for the development of AI ecosystem in the country for five years.

Under the collaboration, AI Productivity Labs in 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and NIELIT centres will be set up across 10 states to train 20,000 educators and empower 1 lakh students with foundational AI courses in 200 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

"We are also setting up one Centre of Excellence with the government on IndiaAI mission," Chandok said.