Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw engages with Meta's AI chief on Artificial Intelligence Initiatives
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently met with Meta’s Chief AI Scientist, Yann LeCun, to explore collaboration opportunities in artificial intelligence, with a focus on job creation and skill development in India. In a post on social media platform X, the minister highlighted how India’s AI Mission has bolstered industry-academia-government partnerships.
On October 25, IndiaAI and Meta announced a partnership establishing the Center for Generative AI, named "Srijan," at IIT Jodhpur, along with the launch of the “YuvAI Initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building” in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). This partnership aims to enhance India's AI capabilities by developing indigenous applications, advancing skill development, and supporting research to contribute to the nation’s vision of tech sovereignty.
Center for Generative AI - "GenAI CoE"
Under this collaboration, Meta will support the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, "GenAI CoE," at IIT Jodhpur. The centre’s primary objective is to promote responsible and ethical AI innovation in India, focusing on open science and fostering a strong AI research ecosystem. By advancing generative AI, the CoE aims to empower researchers, students, and practitioners through dedicated educational resources, policy advisories, and capacity-building initiatives.
YuvAI Initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building
In addition to the GenAI CoE, Meta and AICTE launched the "YuvAI Initiative," a skilling and capacity-building program intended to bridge the talent gap in AI. This programme will train 100,000 students and young developers, aged 18-30, in open-source large language models (LLMs) over the next three years. The initiative focuses on sectors critical to India’s development, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities, and financial inclusion.
The YuvAI programme will include a Gen AI Resource Hub offering access to courses, case studies, and datasets; an LLM for Young Developers Course by Meta; and foundational workshops on AI concepts. Participants will also engage in "Unleash LLM Hackathons," where students will propose AI solutions to address pressing real-world issues. Promising ideas from these hackathons will receive mentorship, seed funding, and market exposure. Furthermore, an AI Innovation Accelerator will support 10 student-led startups exploring open-source AI models, providing resources for incubation and growth.
