Strengthening the existing partnership between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Meta, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Govt of India, met with Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs at Meta, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The meeting focused on leveraging frontier technologies to position India as the global leader in skill development and digital transformation. The discussion centered on key objectives, including the development of the Skill India Assistant (SIA), an advanced AI solution, powered by Meta’s open-source large language model, Llama to be integrated with the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH).
This assistant aims to deliver personalized learning on skilling courses, training resources, and career development opportunities through multimodal interaction methods, to millions of Indian youths in the Skill India ecosystem.
The meeting also emphasized advancing India’s efforts to establish itself as the Skill Capital of the World and exploring the transformative potential of open-source AI solutions like Llama to drive innovation, inclusivity, and scalability in skill-building initiatives.
The Beta version of SIA is now complete and is currently undergoing rigorous testing and feedback collection. The public version is expected to go live in February 2025. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, envisioning a transformative future, stated: "India stands at the forefront of a global skilling revolution, ready to embrace innovation and redefine the way skills are nurtured and deployed.
With Meta's technologies, like the Llama powered Artificial Intelligence solution, Skill India Assistant (SIA), we are unlocking unprecedented opportunities for our youth to excel in the digital age. These innovations signify more than technological progress they symbolize a bold commitment to empower every individual with the tools to succeed globally.
By harnessing the potential of AI, India has an opportunity to not only become the global skill capital but also a beacon of inclusive growth and innovation for the world." Shivnath Thukral, Vice President, India, Meta, added: Meta is honored to partner with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in shaping a future where technology and human potential converge.
With initiatives like the AI-powered Skill India Assistant (SIA), we aim to empower India’s youth and entrepreneurs to lead in the global digital economy. India’s commitment to embracing frontier technologies inspires us to collaborate in building scalable, inclusive, and transformative solutions that not only upskill individuals but also set a global benchmark for innovation and growth."
As part of another partnership with Meta, MSDE is also supporting entrepreneurs across the country through upskilling initiatives implemented by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD).
These programs focus on training individuals to leverage platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reels to build and grow their businesses, build digital brands, and access new markets. This initiative empowers aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to unlock new opportunities and enhance their digital capabilities.