Google launches AI Skill Academy in India in partnership with IIMC
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New Delhi: Google on Monday announced the launch of the Google News Initiative (GNI) AI Skills Academy in India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), marking a significant step in empowering Indian newsrooms and media educators to adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in journalism.
The initiative, unveiled in New Delhi, is aimed at equipping media professionals with essential AI knowledge and practical tools to help them navigate and thrive in an AI-driven media ecosystem. The programme, developed in partnership with IIMC’s Department of New Media and with training support from How India Lives, will run as a 10-week hybrid training series.
“Continuing our commitment to collaborate with news organisations across India and bring them Google’s best-in-class technology, we're excited to announce the launch of the Google News Initiative AI Skills Academy in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication,” Google said in a statement.
The comprehensive training will provide foundational AI understanding along with hands-on skills to apply AI in newsroom operations. Participants will learn to utilise Google’s AI-powered tools such as NotebookLM, Gemini, AI Studio, and Pinpoint. These tools are designed to streamline workflows, enhance efficiency, and free up time for in-depth research and creative storytelling.
The programme includes weekly deep-dive sessions, practical exercises, dedicated mentoring, and problem-solving modules. The curriculum is tailored to support participants in applying AI to a wide range of newsroom functions, from content generation to data analysis.
Google also confirmed its support to IIMC in extending this initiative to media educators and students across its six campuses in India. By doing so, the collaboration aims to cultivate a new generation of AI-literate journalists and media professionals.
Nimish Rustagi, Registrar of IIMC, welcomed the initiative, stating, “As AI transforms journalism, this initiative will help professionals and students stay ahead. We intend to promote responsible innovation and enhance creativity in storytelling. IIMC is happy to be part of this initiative that will also help train students across our six campuses.”
The GNI AI Skills Academy represents a forward-looking effort to foster responsible AI integration in journalism, promote innovation, and strengthen the future of media education and practice in India.
With IANS inputs
