On Saturday, Google signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government to boost technological advancement and foster innovation in the state. (Photo: Reuters)
The time has come for Chenn.AI to join Google’s AI roadmap. The global major has signed an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government to develop the AI ecosystem in the state.
With this partnership, the company aims to train 2 million youth in AI through Naan Mudhalvan, collaborate with startups and bring advanced technology to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the rural economy. On Sunday, Tamil Nadu secured an investment of Rs 400 crore from US-based Ohmium International to set up a manufacturing plant in the state. The Chief Minister is currently on a visit to the US seeking investments for Tamil Nadu.
The deal with Google comes after Alphabet (Google’s parent company) announced plans to manufacture Pixel smartphones in Tamil Nadu in partnership with Foxconn. This will be done at a former Nokia campus in Sriperumbudur, located 40 km southwest of Chennai. Apart from smartphones, the American tech giant will also start manufacturing drones in the state through its subsidiary Wing LLC.
Google on Saturday exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government to boost technological advancement and encourage innovation in the state.
The MoU exchange took place at Google’s Mountain View office in the presence of Prime Minister MK Stalin and Industries Minister TRB Rajaa. Amit Zavery, Vice President and Head of Google Cloud Platform, and Nanda Ramachandran, Vice President of Google’s Pixel Business Unit, were also present.
Under the MoU, Google will work with Guidance, the nodal agency of the Government of Tamil Nadu for investment promotion and facilitation, to support the development of a robust AI ecosystem. This includes providing access to advanced technologies and resources, with an emphasis on empowering individuals, businesses and government entities to leverage AI for inclusive growth and progress.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Google on advanced manufacturing, including the recently announced Made in India Pixel 8 phone that is being manufactured in Tamil Nadu. The MoU signed today will explore key artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives under the Tamil Nadu AI Labs. Our partnership with Google is a significant step forward in making Tamil Nadu a thriving hub for AI and advanced electronics manufacturing. We are not just adopting technology; we are harnessing its power to propel our state into the future,” Rajaa said.
“The Prime Minister’s visionary ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ programme, which is India’s largest skilling initiative, aims to equip the youth of Tamil Nadu with future-ready AI skills and spur innovation in key sectors like startups, mobility, healthcare and other real-world challenges. The state has committed to equipping 2 million youth with cutting-edge AI skills to make them future-ready. We look forward to exploring initiatives with Google under this programme,” he added.
“We are delighted to partner with the Tamil Nadu government on its journey towards an AI-powered future. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to fostering inclusive growth and technological progress through AI. We look forward to working together to build a thriving AI ecosystem in Tamil Nadu – one that not only drives innovation and creates opportunities but also empowers people with the skills they need to succeed in the digital age,” Zavery added.
Google and the Tamil Nadu government are exploring collaborations in relation to the manufacturing of Pixel 8 phones. Pixel 8 devices made in India are being manufactured in Tamil Nadu through local partnerships. Google will collaborate with the government to train Tamil Nadu’s workforce with AI capabilities and explore AI learning initiatives under the flagship ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ training platform.
The programs will also seek to improve digital education to build a future-ready workforce.
Startups and Innovation: Google will work with Tamil Nadu’s startup ecosystem to offer mentorship and networking with Google experts and industry leaders, with AI-focused events designed to solve local challenges and foster innovation and problem-solving within the community. The Google for Startups program will provide eligible venture-funded AI startups with cloud credits, technical training, and business support to accelerate their growth.
Enabling SMEs and the Rural Economy: To empower SMEs in Tamil Nadu, Google and Google Cloud partners will collaborate with the government to help leverage Google Cloud AI in the open network marketplace. These efforts will enable simplified access, automate processes, improve decision-making, and promote innovation through technology adoption. Google is committed to developing AI in a way that maximizes positive benefits for society while addressing challenges, guided by our AI Principles. We prioritize fundamental research to create solutions for the world’s most pressing problems and believe that collaboration across diverse communities is the key to accelerating progress with tangible impact while ensuring the ethical development and deployment of these transformative technologies.
First published: September 1, 2024 | 16:50 IS
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