₹10,372-cr launch pad for AI

THE UNION CABINET on Thursday approved the setting up of India AI (artificial intelligence) mission with an allocation of ₹10,372 crore.

- JATIN GROVER

The programme will bring AI compute capacity under the public-private partnership mode through GPU (graphics processing unit) servers, allocating early-stage funding to deep tech startups, setting up of innovation centres and developing a broader AI sovereign infrastructure.

The programme also includes creating a datasets platform that will have the largest collection of anonymised data to drive innovation and enhance capabilities of AI applications. The approved corpus will also be utilised to promote development of AI applications in critical sectors as well as increase AI courses in colleges and universities for skill development. It also includes investment in the development of indigenous foundational models as well as focusing on indigenous tools for safe, trusted, and ethical AI development and deployment.

"PM Modi has democratised technology. With AI mission, he will make computing power available to innovators, startups, students and educational institutions," IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.