India to Invest Rs 5,000 Crore in Graphic Processing Units to Boost AI Capabilities

New Delhi, Jul 8 (KNN) The Government of India is set to allocate approximately Rs 5,000 crore from its Rs 10,372 crore India AI Mission budget to procure advanced Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). 

This investment aims to enhance the country's artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and support startups in AI research and development.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) plans to acquire over 10,000 GPUs, which are crucial for accelerating AI and machine learning tasks. 

However, rather than directly purchasing and managing the GPUs, the government will encourage private sector investment and subsidise access to these compute resources. 

This approach is designed to make powerful computing capabilities more accessible to startups and researchers without the government directly owning and operating the infrastructure.

In a move to promote flexibility and innovation, startups and researchers will have the freedom to choose the specific GPU models that best suit their needs. This user-centric procurement model will allow end-users to decide on the most suitable infrastructure for their AI projects, ensuring that the diverse needs of India's AI community are met.

To maintain the integrity of this initiative, the government will introduce checks and balances to prevent misuse of subsidized compute resources. This will ensure that the benefits reach those genuinely in need of computational power for AI development. Additionally, MeitY is considering mechanisms like viability gap funding or a voucher-based system to expedite GPU resource availability across the country.

This strategic investment is expected to make powerful computing resources more accessible and affordable, fostering innovation in India's AI sector. By supporting startups and researchers with subsidised access to cutting-edge GPU technology, the government aims to position India as a global AI powerhouse, driving significant advancements in the field.

(KNN Bureau)