Launched in collaboration with the Indian government and global organisations, AI Kiran combines mentorship, financing access, and blockchain-verified recognition to build a dynamic, cross-functional AI community for women in fields such as healthcare, education, and sustainability. India is expected to become a global leader in AI. Therefore, developing its women in this field will have a transformative effect on a global scale. As the first employee and Managing Director of Facebook India (now Meta) and the first woman investor at SoftBank's $130 billion AI-focused Vision Fund, Kirthiga Reddy is certain of her goals for her new platform, AI Kiran.
Reddy, who is currently the CEO and co-founder of worldwide trust-tech platform Verix, is the driving force behind AI Kiran, an initiative that seeks to connect, fund, and mentor Indian women in AI. In honour of UN Creativity and Innovation Day, AI Kiran was launched on April 21.
The time is critical since, according to estimates, women only make up 33 per cent of GenAI employment at the junior level in India, and only 19 per cent at the senior level, even though they outnumber men in STEM programs.
Building a cross-functional AI community is the goal. A large and varied audience of professionals, students, and academics from all around India may access the project. The blockchain-powered credentialing is used to digitally verify all AI Kiran recognitions, guaranteeing their validity, transparency, and worldwide shareability. Through the combination of a thriving membership community, mentorship, carefully chosen educational programs, branding assistance, and high-impact events, this initiative offers significant chances for development, exposure, and leadership. Additionally, it is about bringing women together across geographies.
It is estimated that the AI industry in India is expected to grow to $17 billion by 2027. This can be achieved through a collaborative approach between the government, private sector, and civil society organisations to guarantee that women will be a major force in developing and using revolutionary technologies.
Image source: The Women Achiever.com, Data scientist, NYIT, Edumed