Microsoft’s India AI Tour: Driving Inclusive Growth with AI

Microsoft’s focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) took centre stage today as Satya Nadella, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, delivered a speech in New Delhi to inaugurate the company’s three-day ‘India AI Tour’. His address highlighted not just the impressive financial commitment of $17.5 billion but rather the practical approach that will drive inclusive growth through AI across India.

Details of the Investment

This visit will kick off in Delhi before extending to Bengaluru and Mumbai. It follows Nadella’s important meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where Microsoft unveiled its largest investment in Asia, a significant US$17.5 billion over the next four years (2026-2029). This investment aims to enhance AI infrastructure, skills, and capabilities in India. The CEO underscored that this substantial investment is essential to fulfil India’s aspiration of becoming an “AI-first future”.

Strategic Partnerships for AI Integration

The heart of today’s event revolved around the announcement of crucial cloud and AI partnerships with leading Indian companies and public sector organisations. These collaborations are set to seamlessly incorporate advanced AI technology into vital sectors of the economy. Microsoft is collaborating with various groups, including Mahindra Group, Apollo Hospitals, Bajaj Finserv, and RailTel, a provider of e-governance solutions. The partnership with Apollo Hospitals, for example, focuses on using AI to research disease trajectories and enhance healthcare delivery.

Commitment to Skills Development

During the speech, skills training and social impact took precedence. Microsoft has increased its commitment to training India’s workforce, now pledging to upskill 20 million individuals in AI by 2030. This national-scale skilling initiative is crucial for preparing India’s vast talent pool for the global AI landscape.

Inclusive Development Focus

Highlighting the theme of inclusive development, Nadella pointed out the integration of Microsoft AI into platforms such as e-Shram and the National Career Service (NCS). This initiative is aimed at assisting approximately 310 million informal sector workers in India by providing AI-driven resources for skill development and employment services.

Supporting a Technological Revolution

In line with the topic of ‘AI diffusion at population scale’, Nadella reaffirmed Microsoft’s dedication to aiding India in evolving from its digital public infrastructure to a robust AI public infrastructure over the next decade, ensuring that all citizens benefit from the technological advancements. His keynote address was succeeded by a discussion with Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog and Chief Architect of the NITI Frontier Tech Hub.

Industry Leaders Join the Conversation

Following the discussion, Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India & South Asia, took the stage to highlight the significance of AI adoption across diverse industries and the growth of businesses. He predicted a future where humans will work alongside AI-based ‘digital colleagues’. Rajiv Kumar, President & Managing Director, IDC Microsoft, then shared insights, followed by contributions from several other industry leaders.