In a groundbreaking move to further enhance the Skill India Mission, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship announced on Monday a strategic partnership with Meta. The collaboration aims to launch an AI-powered assistant that will revolutionize the way learners engage with the Skill India Digital (SID) portal. In addition to the AI assistant, five cutting-edge centres of excellence will be established across the country, specializing in virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies.
This initiative is set to transform the skill development landscape in India, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and immersive technology to make learning more accessible, engaging, and effective.
AI assistant for skill India digital portal
Under this partnership, Meta will utilize its advanced open-source AI model, Llama, to create an AI-powered chatbot designed to enhance the learning experience on the Skill India Digital (SID) Portal. This AI assistant will act as a 24/7 virtual tutor, providing seamless support to users, facilitating easy access to information, and improving learning outcomes.
The chatbot, developed with technical assistance from Sarvam AI, will be piloted over a six-month period. It will help users by offering quick discovery of course information, interactive Q&A sessions for course content, and access to lecture summaries and videos for better revision. Available through WhatsApp, the AI assistant will support multiple languages, including English, Hindi, and Hinglish, and will feature voice capabilities to make it more user-friendly for a broader audience across India.
Users will also be able to search for specific course topics, find nearby skilling centers, explore job opportunities based on location and interest, and receive tailored feedback for continuous improvement, thus providing a comprehensive, personalized learning experience.
Centres of excellence in virtual and mixed reality
In addition to the AI assistant, the partnership will establish five centres of excellence in virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai, and Kanpur. These centres will be equipped with state-of-the-art VR and MR tools that will allow both learners and instructors to experience and practice skills in an immersive, safe, and engaging environment.
The integration of VR and MR into the training curriculum is expected to provide realistic simulations, which will help learners acquire and refine skills in a way that is both engaging and effective. This approach will make skill development more accessible to learners from diverse backgrounds, even those who may not have access to advanced technologies otherwise.
Government and meta’s vision for skilling India
Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, highlighted the significance of the partnership with Meta in accelerating India’s skilling efforts. “By integrating technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and mixed reality into the Skill India ecosystem, we are democratising access to cutting-edge technologies enabling personalised learning pathways for the youth of the country. Our partnership with Meta today is a significant step towards achieving this goal,” he said.
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Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy at Meta India, emphasized how the partnership aligns with Meta’s vision of empowering individuals through advanced technologies. “Through the integration of advanced technologies like Open-Source Llama, we aim to empower not just the students, but also educators and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital-first world,” Thukral stated.
The collaboration is also expected to provide long-term benefits for educators, allowing them to utilize advanced teaching tools and techniques, thereby enriching the overall educational ecosystem in India.
Sarvam AI’s role and the future of skilling in India
Sarvam AI, the technical partner responsible for developing the AI assistant, will play a crucial role in deploying the chatbot and ensuring its functionality aligns with the objectives of the Skill India Mission. The six-month pilot phase will be critical in fine-tuning the AI assistant’s capabilities, ensuring it meets the diverse needs of users across the country.
By integrating AI, VR, and MR into the skill development framework, the government aims to create an inclusive, future-ready workforce capable of thriving in today’s rapidly changing job market.
This partnership with Meta marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to leverage digital technologies for skilling and upskilling the workforce, and it is poised to set a new standard for how skill development programs can be implemented across the globe. The AI assistant and the centres of excellence are expected to make skill acquisition more interactive, personalized, and accessible to millions of learners across India.
