MSDE Partners with Meta to Launch AI Assistant & CoE in VR & MR

The AI assistant will be developed by Sarvam AI, the technical partner for the project, and will undergo a six-month pilot phase before a wider rollout.

The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with Meta to launch two major initiatives aimed at enhancing India’s skilling ecosystem.

These initiatives include the development of an AI Assistant to support the Skill India Mission and the establishment of five Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) at key National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) across India.

These CoEs will be set up in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai, and Kanpur, aiming to equip youth with advanced technological skills.

Empowering Youth with Advanced Skills

Speaking about the partnership, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, highlighted the government’s commitment to empowering India’s youth with skills relevant to the evolving digital landscape.

“Our mission is to empower India’s youth with the skills they need to thrive in today’s competitive environment. Integrating technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and mixed reality into the Skill India ecosystem democratizes access to cutting-edge tools, providing personalized learning experiences,” said Chaudhary.

He emphasized that this collaboration with Meta is a crucial step in fulfilling the Skill India Mission’s goals.

AI-Powered Chatbot for Enhanced Learning

As part of the collaboration, Meta will develop an AI-powered chatbot to enhance the learning experience on the Skill India Digital (SID) Portal. This innovative chatbot, based on Meta’s open-source Llama AI model, will offer 24/7 assistance to users.

It will provide quick access to course information, interactive Q&A for course content, lecture summaries, and relevant video materials for revision.

Accessible via WhatsApp, the chatbot will support English, Hindi, and Hinglish, along with voice capabilities, making it more user-friendly for learners across India.

Additionally, users can search for specific course topics, locate skilling centers, explore job opportunities based on location and interest, and receive personalized feedback for continuous improvement.

The AI assistant will be developed by Sarvam AI, the technical partner for the project, and will undergo a six-month pilot phase before a wider rollout.

A New Era of E-Governance & AI

The AI assistant is part of a broader collaborative e-governance framework that aims to harness Meta’s open-source AI models for India’s AI ecosystem.

This initiative is aligned with India’s AI Mission and is expected to drive socio-economic transformation at scale.

By incorporating advanced AI technologies into the Skill India platform, the partnership seeks to streamline information access, improve learning outcomes, and provide students with seamless support through an intuitive digital interface.

The analytics generated by the AI chatbot will provide MSDE with valuable insights to further optimize the Skill India Digital Portal, ensuring that it continues to meet the needs of learners and instructors across the country.

CoE in Virtual & Mixed Reality

In addition to the AI chatbot, the partnership will establish five CoEs at NSTIs in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai, and Kanpur, with a focus on VR and MR technologies.

These CoEs will serve as immersive learning hubs, providing learners and instructors with the latest VR tools to develop and enhance skills in a safe and engaging environment.

The centers will deliver realistic simulations, improving the accessibility and quality of skill development training.

The CoEs are expected to provide transformative learning experiences by offering interactive and immersive training in various industries.

The technical partner for establishing the CoEs, Skillveri, will provide the necessary VR and MR resources, as well as curriculum and professional training for learners and instructors.

Meta’s Commitment to Education & Technology

Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy at Meta India, emphasized Meta’s dedication to using advanced technologies to drive India’s economic development.

“At Meta, we are committed to leveraging frontier technologies like AI, VR, and MR to impact India’s economic development. Our partnerships with MSDE are a testament to our commitment to bridging the gap between technology and education. By integrating advanced technologies like Open-Source Llama, we aim to empower students, educators, and entrepreneurs to thrive in today’s digital-first world,” Thukral said.

A Boost for the Skill India Digital Portal

The Skill India Digital Portal has become a cornerstone of the nation’s skilling ecosystem, offering millions of students access to various courses to enhance their employability.

With the introduction of the AI chatbot, MSDE and Meta are poised to revolutionize how students interact with course content, providing them with advanced tools to prepare for the future.

As part of its broader strategy, the partnership also aims to bridge the gap between education and technology, equipping learners and instructors with VR and MR tools to enhance learning experiences.

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