Tackling the needs of underserved communities presents a complicated and diverse challenge that demands cooperation from multiple parties. By recognizing the systemic obstacles and partnering to foster a more equitable and inclusive society, we can enhance the lives of the most vulnerable individuals and create a more robust, resilient future for everyone.

Microsoft and International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT- B) launched A4I - the AI Innovation and Inclusion Initiative, a collaborative effort aimed at advancing the use of AI to create inclusive, impactful and scalable solutions for the underserved communities. AI has great potential to create significant change, particularly in sectors like healthcare, education, and accessibility. Microsoft and IIIT-B collaborate closely through this initiative to establish a framework for partnerships and on-going scaling and support. This framework will facilitate the scaling of innovations already created and tested by Microsoft into broadly accessible Digital Public Goods (DGPs). The objective is to cultivate an ecosystem that supports AI-driven innovations for lasting societal impact.  

CEO Insights engaged in discussion with   Venkat Padmanabhan, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India, Dr. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore (IIIT-B) and Amit Prakash, Professor and Head of the Department of Digital Humanities and Societal Systems (DHSS), IIIT Bangalore focussed on the motivations of key speakers in the field of technology and AI, networking, and mobile systems. The conversation emphasized the importance of industry-academia collaboration and the role of government in supporting digital infrastructure.  Besides, these leaders have shared insights on the role of A4I in data centers and the importance of adapting solutions to diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.

Motivation for Helping the Underserved Communities and Societal Impact 

Prof. Amit says, “I participated in competition-based projects as part of the team responsible for organizing a state-wide competition for the public works department, which was among the early initiatives in India regarding planning. I was also a member of the team that developed a digital application in the late 90s and early 2000s for an online management and monitoring system; this was actually the first nationwide deployment of information technology in a flagship government initiative. As technology advanced and we began to implement it, I started engaging with people in the field to gain insights into their interactions with such technologies. It became clear that we needed to improve significantly and acquire a deeper understanding of governance, development, and social contexts before these technologies could be effectively integrated. While these technologies are still in use, and the application continues to be utilized by the government, the anticipated developmental benefits haven't fully materialized. After transitioning to IIIT B, following some consulting work in the public sector and social sector, as well as at the Center for IT and Public Policy, I focused on issues of inclusion and accessibility.”

Dr. Debabrata says, “In India, as well as internationally, many individuals lack access to digital resources or assistance. With the introduction of A4I, we can address various societal needs. Despite the presence of technology, there remain numerous challenges linked to its use. To tackle these issues, a partnership between industry and academia is essential.  Besides, the involvement of citizens and government is crucial. The government is closely monitoring our efforts and collaborating with us as well. Ultimately, the collaboration between industry, academia, and government in Bangalore is quite distinctive.”

Challenges for Implementing A4I Solutions in India

Venkat  says, “We have developed co-pilot that harnesses Microsoft’s AI and GPT models, enabling us to digest the Karnataka state curriculum in English as input. Consequently, it can generate lesson plans that adhere to the curriculum requirements. This entails writing software that harnesses the capabilities of A4I, powered by the input data we collect. Additionally, we are not merely taking calendars or resources from different states or languages; we are focused exclusively on processing the curriculum data from that particular state. This approach embodies our philosophy of being deeply entrenched in our context, combined with the immense power of A4I. In rural and underdeveloped areas smartphones play a significant role. Many individuals have access to digital services.  Another aspect we explore in healthcare or education is we work through an intermediary, where the teacher acts as an intermediary in the classroom. Ultimately, the goal is to educate the students, but if we can empower the teachers to utilize AI technology, it could be advantageous for the students. Therefore, even if the students themselves lack devices, having a small number of teachers equipped with these tools can help clarify the issue at hand.”

Dr. Debabrata says, “Many state governments have provided tablets for education at no cost in schools across the country. Additionally, the government of India has established fiber connections linking three to four villages through wireless technology. Positive developments are occurring in a language-neutral manner, with technology playing a vital role in making these advancements accessible to the public, thanks to contributions from professionals, scientists in tech companies, and financial support from leading corporations like Microsoft. Furthermore, AI will be integrated into the data centers and cloud systems of the government, whether at the state level or in private sectors, as it requires significant computational power and vast amounts of data to manage governmental information. Thus, facilities such as the data center in Karnataka, and others throughout the state, are interconnected to serve government resources. The government has also addressed the language issue to a great extent through what is commonly referred to as the natural language processing challenge.”

Prof. Amit says, “Through A4I, we are creating a user interface designed to accommodate users with varying literary and educational backgrounds across different regions. It is crucial to develop an interface that can be easily navigated by those who are expected to use it." 

 

This is significant because as infrastructure is being established and connectivity is improving; challenges related to access still exist. We are committed to ensuring that everything provided is approached from an accessibility standpoint, and if it is accessible and valuable to them, adoption rates will be higher,” adds Prof. Amit.

Also Read: Microsoft AI CEO is 'Building AI Companions for India'

A4I Creating Opportunities for  Startups and Academic Institutions 

Prof. Amit says, “ If you look at the partners, there are startups such as  Khushi Baby,  Vision Empower that started off in the social impact development along with academic institutions. Our goal is to create an open collaborative platform, envisioned as a space for collaboration where we invite diverse stakeholders to engage. We plan to facilitate this through various types of forums. Firstly, we will have a website where we will announce relevant information; in addition, we will establish mailing groups. Additionally, we intend to organize workshops, seminars, and conferences to gather more input and foster interaction, allowing us to benefit from the expertise of various stakeholders.”