Tata Group hosts AI workshop for over 1,500 rural women at India AI Impact Summit 2026

The Tata Group brought 1,553 rural women to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 for the Tata AI Sakhi Immersion Program, a hands-on workshop aimed at helping artisans and entrepreneurs use artificial intelligence for business growth and self-reliance.

Held in the presence of Smriti Irani, Chairperson, Alliance for Global Good, Gender Equity and Equality, CII, and Aarthi Subramanian, Executive Director and COO, TCS, the program included participants from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi NCR.

The women were divided into three cohorts: artisanal, digitally literate basic, and digitally literate advanced. The groups included artisans, self-help group leaders, grassroots entrepreneurs, and community facilitators.

The workshop followed a mentorship-based model, with one mentor assigned to every five participants to provide direct support.

During the 2.5-hour session, participants used AI tools on their mobile phones in their own languages to generate product designs, create marketing materials, access information on government schemes, translate documents, and prepare applications.

By the end of the program, 4,727 AI-enabled tasks were completed, with the advanced cohort recording a 98% completion rate.

“It’s very heartening to witness thousands of women from across the country participating in the Tata AI Sakhi Immersion Program. At Tata Group and TCS, we firmly believe that technological advancement must go hand in hand with the parallel progress of communities,” said Subramanian.

“Through the Tata AI Sakhi Immersion Program, we are on a journey to encourage and empower thousands of women artisans and entrepreneurs in rural India to harness the power of AI, not just as a tool, but as a force to unlock creativity, expand opportunities, and build sustainable livelihoods. This is our vision of inclusive growth, where technology becomes a bridge to shared prosperity and a stronger, self-sustaining India,” Subramanian added.

Among the participants, 447 traditional artisans used AI to develop design concepts and product visuals for crafts such as Pattachitra, Madhubani, and Dokra.

Another 940 women from self-help groups applied AI tools to identify objects, explore government programs, and draft marketing and business communication materials.

The advanced group included 166 women entrepreneurs earning about ₹20,000 per month, who explored AI applications for business expansion and self-learning.

The sessions centered on live demonstrations and guided use cases, focusing on practical applications such as product design support and marketing content creation.

Organizers said the approach was intended to help participants integrate AI into daily economic activities and strengthen their income opportunities.