Nvidia joins $2 billion India deep tech alliance to mentor AI startups
Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang spoke to reporters during a trip to Beijing in July.
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As a founding member of a $2 billion investment alliance, Nvidia will help train and mentor emerging deep tech startups in India and deepen its presence in the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
The US chipmaker has joined the India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA), a group of private equity and venture capital investors that has committed $2 billion for deep technology investments, as a founding member. Deep tech startups are an umbrella term that covers emerging companies in semiconductors, space, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics and energy.
The world’s most valuable company will offer technical talks and training to emerging startups in India through the Nvidia Deep Learning Institute.
Nvidia Vishal Dhupar, Nvidia’s general manager for South Asia, said it wants to “provide guidance on AI systems, developer enablement and responsible deployment, and collaborate with policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs.”
Nvidia did not disclose any financial investment, timeline or training goals and did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
“Nvidia’s depth of expertise in building AI systems, software and ecosystems will benefit our network of investors and entrepreneurs,” said Sriram Viswanathan, founding board member of IDTA.
He told CNBC that the pace of innovation is accelerating in India and “a significant number of Indian deep tech companies of global repute” could emerge in the next five years.
The Indian government is also actively promoting research and innovation in deep technology through major initiatives, including over 100 billion rupees (US$1.1 billion) under its purview. Artificial Intelligence Mission and a separate 1 trillion rupees ($11.2 billion) Research, Development and Innovation Program Fund targeting deep technology companies.
On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the country would host the conference. Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit in February next year.
The event is likely to be attended by heads of state and senior policymakers, as well as business leaders such as NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and NVIDIA CEO Demis Hassabis. Google DeepMind.
Nvidia’s commitment in India coincides with growing global interest in India’s AI market, with OpenAI counting the country as its second-largest user base. U.S. rivals are also deepening ties: Google recently pledged $15 billion to build an artificial intelligence center in the southern city of Visakhapatnam.
