Prabash Male, a small-town graduate, turned academic theories into a flourishing career as an Applied Scientist at Amazon. His journey took off at the Amazon ML Summer School, where he bridged classroom knowledge with real-world AI applications. This hands-on experience led to an internship in Amazon’s Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) organisation, where he contributed to developing large-scale speech models.
As the world races towards an AI-driven future, India finds itself at a critical juncture – unprecedented growth opportunities alongside a growing tech talent gap. This issue is more than just a skills shortage; it’s a pressing race against time, especially for India’s youth. The key challenge is to effectively manage AI-driven disruptions while strategically building a robust AI talent pool.
Reports highlight the dual impact of the AI revolution: while it boosts productivity and growth, it also risks significant job displacement. A McKinsey report forecasts a 10% decrease in jobs requiring routine or low-digital skills by 2030, with young workers set to face the greatest challenges.
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Kirti Seth, CEO of SSC nasscom, highlights the magnitude of the challenge, estimating a need for 200,000 to 300,000 AI professionals within this year. The message is clear: adapt to the AI-driven landscape or face the risk of obsolescence.
The race for tech supremacy
The challenge extends beyond AI, with automation and digitalisation affecting various sectors and increasing demand for skilled professionals in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data science. A McKinsey report warns that up to 12 million Indian women could face job losses due to automation by 2030.
India’s tech-savvy workforce is acutely aware of the AI impact, with platforms like Coursera experiencing a significant increase in AI-related searches. India, with 24.6 million registered learners, has become Coursera’s second-largest market, surpassing all of Europe in learner base. This trend was highlighted by Allouche, Coursera’s Global Vice President of Enterprise, in a recent interview.
Rajeev Rastogi, Vice President of International Machine Learning at Amazon, highlights that AI is set to automate tasks across various sectors, including manufacturing, finance, and healthcare. While new job opportunities will arise, the current workforce must undergo reskilling to remain relevant in this evolving landscape.
In India, industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and finance are poised for major transformation. AI-driven precision farming is set to boost crop yields, predictive maintenance promises to enhance manufacturing efficiency, and the financial sector is increasingly adopting AI for fraud detection and personalized services.
Despite housing 16% of the world’s AI talent pool, the third largest globally, India faces substantial challenges. The high demand for skilled professionals to compete with AI powerhouses like China and the US, who are aggressively advancing AI development, remains a pressing concern.
Compared to other emerging economies, India’s approach to AI skills development presents a mixed picture. China, for example, has prioritised AI as a national strategy, embedding it into its long-term economic plans. The Center for Security and Emerging Technology reports that China is producing nearly twice as many STEM PhD graduates as the United States, with many specialising in AI-related fields.
Alphabet Chief Sundar Pichai anticipates that China will be “at the forefront” of artificial intelligence and stresses the importance of US-China collaboration on both regulation and innovation.
Government initiatives, policy landscape
India is steering towards an AI-driven future with a blend of policy reforms and strategic initiatives. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is embedding AI and emerging technologies into the curriculum from the ground up, while Prime Minister Modi’s focus on “responsible and ethical AI” sets a clear direction. Key programmes like the National Programme on Artificial Intelligence and the proposed AI mission in Bharat aim to enhance AI computing power and advance applications in crucial sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.
However, the challenge is swift implementation. The fast-evolving AI landscape requires agility and adaptability. Streamlining bureaucracy and fostering strong collaboration between government, academia, and industry are crucial to bridging this gap.
India’s startup ecosystem plays a crucial role in this transformation. Collaborations with corporates are driving innovation and skill development. Edtech giants like Byju’s and Unacademy are revolutionising online education, while partnerships with global tech leaders are advancing training programmes. To sustain this momentum, substantial investments are needed to create job opportunities and support ongoing skill development.
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Singapore’s SkillsFuture initiative is a compelling model, emphasising lifelong learning and upskilling to establish the nation as a global innovation hub. India could emulate this approach to develop an ecosystem that promotes continuous learning and skill development.
Multi-pronged approach to bridging the gap
Leading tech companies in India including tech majors are taking proactive steps to democratise Machine Learning (ML) training, extending these initiatives beyond their own workforces.
While India boasts a vast talent pool, geographical disparities persist. Tier 2 and 3 cities often lack access to quality AI education. This is where online learning platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and EdX shine. By offering affordable, accessible, and world-class AI courses, these platforms are democratizing education. Partnerships with Indian institutions, as seen with Coursera, are accelerating this transformation.
“Machine learning has become increasingly prevalent across various sectors,” explains Rajeev Rastogi, Vice President – Machine Learning at Amazon. “This includes manufacturing, financial services, retail, agriculture, and healthcare.” This widespread adoption has led to a surge in demand for ML skills.
As every sector embraces ML for a range of purposes, the demand for ML talent grows significantly.
Microsoft, in partnership with India’s Ministry of Skill Development and ten state governments, aims to train 500,000 students and job seekers in AI by 2025 while IBM’s collaboration with the Ministry of Education focuses on future-ready skills. Amazon India’s MoU with AICTE focuses on empowering women engineering students, alongside their ML Summer School program providing immersive training from Amazon Scientists.
“Since its pilot in 2021,” reveals Rastogi, “the Summer School programme has garnered a lot of interest from engineering students, with applications soaring from nearly 3,900 to over 80 thousand applications from a diverse array of colleges and universities, out of which close to 26 thousand are women student applicants.”
Rastogi proudly states, “This exponential growth reflects India’s growing hunger for AI and ML skills”.
“AI-led disruption in India’s core sectors alone has a potential impact of $500 billion on India’s economy….but this cannot be achieved alone and would require concentrated efforts from the government, industry and academia to ramp up AI skilling and initiatives at scale,” said Debjani Ghosh, President, of Nasscom.
Challenges and the road ahead
While India has made commendable strides in AI skilling, significant hurdles loom on the horizon. Rastogi candidly admits, “Developing a curriculum that remains relevant, engaging, and aligned with the latest advancements in machine learning is an ongoing work.”
The evolving job market further complicates this skilling challenge. The India Skills Report 2024 predicts a sectoral churn due to AI: healthcare is poised to gain 1.6 million new AI jobs by 2030, while retail may lose 850,000 jobs by 2025. However, the retail sector is also expected to create 4 million new AI-centric roles. This flux demands agile and adaptable skilling initiatives.
To thrive in this shifting landscape, professionals need to master core AI competencies. Computer vision is essential for facial recognition and medical imaging. Natural language processing powers chatbots and virtual assistants. Deep learning enables complex pattern recognition. Data scientists who can harness vast datasets to train AI models are becoming indispensable. India’s success in bridging the AI talent gap hinges on cultivating these skills nationwide, including in tier 2 and 3 cities where access to quality education remains a challenge.
As AI becomes more deeply woven into the fabric of society, educational initiatives must incorporate ethical AI principles throughout the learning journey – from K-12 to advanced degrees and professional development programs. Developing course content in multiple Indian languages is crucial to reaching a wider, more diverse audience.
The government can play a pivotal role in scaling and improving these programs. Overcoming infrastructure challenges in rural areas is a priority. Offering financial incentives to companies investing in AI training programs can accelerate skilling efforts. Launching targeted initiatives to attract and retain underrepresented groups in AI is essential to address the diversity gap. Facilitating stronger collaboration between universities and industry leaders will help keep AI curricula relevant and aligned with real-world needs.
The education system must develop an ethical AI framework integrated into all levels of AI education. Ultimately, bridging the AI talent gap goes beyond filling skill deficits; it’s about strategically positioning India’s youth for success in an AI-powered future.
Bridging the AI talent gap is imperative for India to realize its full potential as a global AI leader. The nation has made significant strides through policy reforms, educational initiatives, and industry collaborations. However, the road ahead is challenging, demanding a concerted effort to nurture talent.
The question is not whether India can bridge the AI talent gap, but how quickly and effectively it can do so. As Rastogi aptly puts it, “The success of India’s AI aspirations hinges on its ability to navigate the complex interplay between acquiring skills, mitigating disruptions, and nurturing a culture of responsible innovation.”