To bridge the talent gap in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies, IIIT-Hyderabad has announced the next AI/ML Executive Programme, in collaboration with TalentSprint.
Designed by IIIT-H’s Kohli Centre on Intelligent Systems, a research cluster for AI, the plan is to equip 10,000 industry professionals with expertise in AI and ML by 2021.
“According to IDC Research, global investments in AI are doubling every 18 months and are estimated to grow from $12.5 billion in 2017 to $52 billion by 2021 at a CAGR of 45-50 per cent, making it a hyper growth sector. While the Technology sector is the early adopter of AI, it is finding rapid acceptance across sectors, including retail, banking, and manufacturing, especially automotive.
“The top three skills in job postings on Monster are in the areas of AI, ML and DL (Deep Learning). However, India’s expertise in AI is nascent, the country is not ready for the AI revolution that is upon us,” said Santanu Paul, MD and CEO, TalentSprint.
He said the 16-weekend AI/ML Executive Programme that costs ₹2 lakh will comprise 200 hours of classroom and lab sessions, mentoring, workshops and hackathons. The session commences on June 16 in Hyderabad and June 23 in Bengaluru for a total of 1,000 professionals. The attempt will be to make India a global AI/ML hub by transferring the latest research insights in language technology, computer vision, data sciences, robotics, cognitive sciences and machine learning to industry practitioners.
The programme, directed by CV Jawahar, is also looking to improve gender diversity in deep and disruptive technologies by offering special scholarships to working and returning women professionals. It also offers scholarships to young professionals looking for a career boost with expertise in the latest technologies.
“We piloted the executive programme with two concurrent batches of 400 working professionals with an average of 10 years of experience that began in January and will end this month. We are very encouraged by the enthusiastic response from participants who are hailing the format, delivery and effectiveness of the programme as a game changer,” said PJ Narayanan, Director, IIIT-H.
The Kohli Centre on Intelligent Systems was set up with a grant of ₹20 crore from TCS in 2015-16. TCS has renewed its commitment to the Centre with an additional funding of ₹33 crore that will make the Centre self-sufficient over the next five years. Last year the Centre’s research was featured in 312 publications and received 5,792 citations.