MIB, IICT partner with Google, YouTube to launch AI skilling program for 15,000 creators

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced a nationwide AI skilling program for the creative sector in partnership with Google and YouTube, aiming to train 15,000 participants with industry-ready capabilities.

The initiative, to be implemented by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, is designed to equip creators, students, and media professionals with advanced skills in artificial intelligence across areas such as animation, visual effects, gaming, and digital storytelling.

Positioned as part of the government’s broader push to strengthen the creative economy, the program will focus on integrating AI into mainstream media and content production workflows. It targets high-potential talent across sectors including media, entertainment, and digital platforms.

IICT will oversee the rollout, including curriculum design and execution, in collaboration with Google and YouTube. The training modules will combine AI tools, creative workflows, and platform-level practices to prepare participants for real-world production environments.

The initiative builds on the earlier “Create with AI” program and reflects ongoing efforts to position India as a global hub for digital content and innovation.

“The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in partnership with Google and YouTube, is pleased to announce this national AI skilling initiative to train 15,000 participants from the creative and media sectors,” said Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

“This initiative is being implemented through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and is aimed at strengthening AI capabilities in areas such as animation, visual effects, gaming, comics (AVGC), and media technology. It will support creators, media professionals, students, and developers in building future-ready skills and contribute to India’s emergence as a global hub for digital content and innovation,” added Vaishnaw.

Highlighting the role of AI in the creative economy, YouTube India Managing Director Gunjan Soni said, "We believe AI can unlock incredible new opportunities for India's vibrant creative economy.”

“By working together with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and IICT, we can provide creators and professionals with the skills they need to become fluent in the tools of tomorrow, use AI to tell richer stories, reach new audiences, and help shape the future of media. This program is a testament to our commitment to a 'Digital India' where technology empowers everyone,” added Soni.

Echoing the sentiment, Shekar Khosla, Vice President Marketing India at Google, said, “We remain deeply committed to supporting India’s growth as a leading digital economy. This expanded partnership with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting will provide creative professionals with the specialized AI skills needed to succeed.”

“We're excited to see how they will use our most advanced tools to build innovative solutions and shape the future of India's vibrant creative landscape,” Khosla added.

Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, emphasized the practical focus of the initiative. "This initiative is structured to address a clear national requirement preparing creative professionals for practical, real-world application of AI across content creation, production, and distribution,” he said.

“Through IICT’s role as the implementation partner, the program establishes a focused skilling framework that moves beyond awareness and into capability building. The collaboration ensures that the curriculum, scale, and delivery are aligned with both industry standards and India’s long-term creative economy objectives,” he added.

The program will be rolled out in two phases. The first phase will provide foundational AI training to all 15,000 participants through Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud’s generative AI learning paths.

The second phase will focus on specialized, hands-on training, including storytelling, advanced AI tools, and YouTube best practices, delivered through a hybrid model across key creative hubs in India.

By combining technical training with platform expertise, the initiative aims to create a skilled workforce capable of driving the next phase of innovation in India’s creative and digital industries.