India to build a 10,000+ GPU supercomputer for AI modelling

Government of India has proposed to build a supercomputer of 10,000 GPU or more capacity as part of its plan to develop the necessary infrastructure for a self-sufficient AI eco-system in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Rs10,000 crore ($1.24 billion) investment in the IndiaAI mission, aimed at creating an India-centred AI ecosystem, with public and private participation. 

A major part of the investment will go towards building a powerful high-performance computing (HPC) system, which will serve as the central AI infrastructure.

The HPC system is needed to support AI startups and research organisations.

The IndiaAI Mission will use public subsidies to create a robust "compute infrastructure," and new language models to cater to the country’s diverse languages.

The IndiaAI mission also envisages an Innovation Centre for development and deployment of indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific foundational models. 

Besides, there will be an IndiaAI Datasets Platform for providing streamlined access to "non-personal," high-quality databases via a unified data platform. The government also proposes to train new skilled workers though the IndiaAI FutureSkills initiative. Under the programme graduate and postgraduate AI projects across the country will get enhanced access to, "Data and AI Labs" that offer courses on foundational models.

A new financing programme for AI startups to support private sector initiatives and ensure safe and responsible AI projects using indigenous software frameworks and as per government guidelines.

Operating on multiple levels, the IndiaAI Mission will bolster domestic AI capabilities and create new job opportunities for India’s young population.