Google on Saturday exchanged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government to boost technological advancement and foster innovation in the state.
The collaboration will focus on initiatives in key areas such as helping AI startups, training and helping the industry ecosystem, including MSMEs, build effective and scalable AI solutions. The MoU exchange took place at Google’s offices in Mountain View, in the presence of state Chief Minister MK Stalin and Industries Minister TRB Rajaa. Amit Zavery, Vice President and Head of Platform, Google Cloud, and Nanda Ramachandran, Vice President, Pixel Business Unit, Google, were also present.
Under the MoU, Google will collaborate 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 access to advanced technologies and resources, with a focus on enabling individuals, businesses and government entities to leverage AI for inclusive growth and progress.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Google on advanced manufacturing, including the recently announced Made in India Pixel 8 phone, 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 an important step towards establishing Tamil Nadu as a thriving AI and advanced electronics manufacturing hub. We are not just embracing technology; we are harnessing its power to propel our state into the future,” Rajaa said.
“The Chief Minister’s visionary ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ programme, which is India’s largest upskilling initiative, aims to equip the youth of Tamil Nadu with future-ready AI skills and drive innovation in key sectors like startups, mobility, healthcare and other real-world challenges. The state is 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 Government of Tamil Nadu in its journey towards an AI-enabled future. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to fostering inclusive growth and technological advancement 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 equips individuals with the skills they need to succeed in the digital age,” Zavery added.
Google and the Tamil Nadu government are exploring collaborations for manufacturing Pixel 8 phones. The Pixel 8 devices made in India are manufactured in Tamil Nadu through local partnerships. Google will collaborate with the government to upskill the Tamil Nadu workforce in AI and explore AI learning initiatives under the flagship upskilling platform ‘Naan Mudhalvan’.
The programs will also seek to improve digital education to build a future-ready workforce.
Start-up and Innovation: Google will work alongside the Tamil Nadu startup ecosystem to provide mentorship and networking with Google experts and industry leaders, with AI-focused events designed to address local challenges and foster innovation and problem-solving within the community. The Google for Startups program will provide eligible venture-backed AI startups with cloud credits, technical training, and business support to accelerate their growth.
Promoting MSMEs 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 market. These efforts will streamline access, automate processes, improve decision-making, and promote innovation through technology adoption. Google is committed to developing AI in ways that maximize positive societal benefits while addressing challenges, guided by our AI Principles. We prioritize fundamental research to create solutions to the world’s most pressing problems and believe that collaboration across diverse communities is key to accelerating progress with tangible impact while ensuring the ethical development and deployment of these transformative technologies.
First published: August 31, 2024 | 8:12 p.m. IST
