Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has announced a significant $4 million grant to the Central Square Foundation, aiming to improve AI literacy among 5 million students, parents, and educators across India over the next four years.
This initiative was unveiled during the 10th edition of Google for India and is part of a broader effort to prepare the country for an AI-driven future.
The grant will support the AI Samarth initiative, which plans to introduce AI-focused curricula in government schools and develop comprehensive training modules for educators and families. Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja, CEO and Managing Director of the Central Square Foundation, highlighted the urgent need for AI literacy, stating, "As AI increasingly influences our lives, education must adapt. Our initiative will empower millions to use AI meaningfully and responsibly."
In addition to the grant, Google.org is launching a Fellowship program that will see Google employees providing pro bono support to Rocket Learning, an Indian non-profit dedicated to early childhood development. This collaboration aims to create a generative AI-powered tutor named Saheli, designed to help children aged 3 to 6 develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Rocket Learning plans to scale Saheli to reach underserved children across India and eventually offer it in 20 languages globally.
Vishal Sunil, CTO and co-founder of Rocket Learning, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "With Google.org’s support, we are eager to revolutionize early childhood education, making quality learning accessible to every child in India." This initiative underscores Google.org’s commitment to leveraging AI for social good, having invested over $60 million in Indian non-profits since 2015.
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