In a transformative move aimed at reshaping the landscape of artificial intelligence in India, former Meta India head Kirthiga Reddy has unveiled AI Kiran, a pioneering platform built to empower Indian women in AI. Officially launching on April 21 — aligned with the UN’s World Creativity and Innovation Day — AI Kiran is not just another tech initiative; it's a movement at the intersection of inclusion, innovation, and impact.
With India on the cusp of becoming a global AI powerhouse, AI Kiran recognizes a vital truth: empowering women in AI isn’t just a matter of equity — it’s a lever for global transformation.
A Vision Rooted in Experience and Global Perspective
Reddy’s career path has been anything but ordinary. From becoming the first employee and Managing Director of Facebook India (now Meta) to breaking new ground as the first female investing partner at SoftBank’s Vision Fund — a $130B AI-focused fund — she has consistently demonstrated a vision for scale and impact. Now, as CEO & Co-founder of Verix, a global trust-tech platform, Reddy brings her credibility and global network to bear on AI Kiran.
“With India projected to be a global AI powerhouse, empowering its women in this space isn’t just local impact — it’s global transformation.” – Kirthiga Reddy
AI Kiran: Building a Future-Ready AI Community
At its core, AI Kiran aims to create a vibrant, cross-functional AI community for Indian women across sectors like healthcare, education, sustainability, and governance. The platform is built around three powerful pillars:
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Mentorship: Connecting women with leading voices in AI for guidance, support, and leadership development.
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Funding Access: Bridging the resource gap with structured exposure to investors, grants, and startup funding opportunities.
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Blockchain-Verified Recognition: Every achievement within AI Kiran is digitally credentialed via blockchain, ensuring global visibility, authenticity, and transparency.
Hosted on the Indian Government’s Manthan Platform, AI Kiran is designed to be highly accessible — reaching students, professionals, and researchers from Tier 1 cities to rural India.
The Urgency of Now
The launch timing is critical. Despite women outnumbering men in STEM courses in India, representation in AI remains alarmingly low. According to recent estimates:
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Women hold just 33% of GenAI roles at the junior level in India.
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This drops sharply to 19% at senior levels.
AI Kiran is set to confront this gap head-on by driving visibility, capability-building, and career acceleration for women in AI.
What Makes AI Kiran Unique?
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Cross-Disciplinary Approach: AI Kiran isn’t just for coders. It welcomes women from design, policy, data science, product management, ethics, and more — recognizing that AI’s future is multidisciplinary.
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Curated Learning & Events: Tailored programs, branding support, and marquee events are embedded into the platform, ensuring women not only learn but shine.
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Global Connectivity: By linking Indian women to global networks and thought leaders, AI Kiran aims to position them at the heart of international AI discourse.
The Road Ahead
AI Kiran signals a new chapter for women in Indian tech — one that aligns with the country’s growing AI ambitions and its need for inclusive leadership. As India continues to contribute to cutting-edge AI research and application, platforms like AI Kiran will ensure that women are not just participants in the AI revolution — but leaders of it.
Whether you're a young student dreaming of an AI career or a seasoned professional seeking reinvention, AI Kiran opens the door to opportunity, mentorship, and global impact.
Follow AI Kiran’s journey as it builds an ecosystem where Indian women in AI can thrive, lead, and transform the world.
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