Advancing India's AI Skills
A Deloitte-Nasscom report
This paper refers to these five core segments while discussing the skills required and initiatives from industry, academia, and government. The skills required for training these cohorts will encompass a mix of technical and non-technical areas and depend on the specialisation, such as AI developers, AI experts and technical college students.
In line with these levels, there are five core segments that need to be targeted with different learning paths, ranging from generic to specialised:
- AI informed: Focused on general AI literacy
- AI users: Focused on using AI to improve productivity and be AI first in the respective discipline
- AI integrators: IT workforce integrating AI tools and technologies into existing workflows
- AI builders/developers/architects: Workforce that will develop AI-related software and applications
- AI experts: Top-tier talent focused on new age research and who have the skill and capability to develop AI models from scratch
By 2030, it is expected that India will have a surplus of talent, with over one million highly skilled tech professionals. To ensure a successful strategy and execution for AI skill development and talent availability in India, a collaborative approach involving industry, academia and the government is essential.
Operating models to develop the requisite AI skills in India
Industry
- Skill identification and pathway development
- National AI skilling initiatives Collaborative skill pipeline
- development
Academia
- AI awareness and general education
- Foundational and advanced AI training
- Incentives and support
Government
- Policy and framework development
- Funding and grantsPublic-private collaboration
Road ahead for India
Advancing India's AI exports presents a compelling narrative of growth and opportunity for India’s digital economy the nation's AI sector stands poised to spearhead this transformative journey, positioning India as a major player in the AI landscape.
To advance India's AI exports, the following key steps need to be taken:
- Invest in upskilling initiatives to equip professionals with expertise in AI, including programming languages, AI frameworks and domain-specific technical skills
- Foster collaboration between industry and academia to bridge the skill gap and align educational offerings with industry requirements
- Implement specialised training programmes, mentorship opportunities and on-the-job project experiences to nurture fresh talent for the AI workforce
- Establish data and AI labs in collaboration with technical training institutes to provide vocational AI training
- Explore models, such as online learning platforms and boot camps, to cater to diverse learning needs and enhance accessibility to AI
By embracing these strategic measures, India can pave the way for exponential growth in AI exports, driving economic prosperity and solidifying its position as the digital global leader.
