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‘AI Champions' will undergo four-day intensive training programme, says RTGS official

‘AI Champions' will undergo four-day intensive training programme, says RTGS official

The Hindu25-04-2025
Top officials from various departments took part in the high-level workshop on 'AI and Emerging Technologies for Government Digital Transformation', on the second day on Friday.
The workshop was designed to enhance awareness and capacity among senior and mid-level officers to implement AI-driven innovations across government functions.
During the session, RTGS Secretary Bhaskar Katamaneni said 20 departments would be shortlisted to identify AI Champions (Change Agents), who would undergo a four-day intensive training programme.
These departments, selected strategically to cover approximately 80% of government operations, would work in close coordination with the IT Department and WGDT to identify department-specific problems that could be converted into Proof of Concept (PoC) solutions, and later scaled to full-fledged implementation, he said.
'The government envisions that 100 to 150 projects will emerge from this initiative, aimed at improving governance, service delivery, and impact measurement. The process will culminate with these departments submitting their AI-enabled PoCs to a jury comprising senior government officials and industry experts,' he said.
On the second day, 100 AI Champions and 200 AI Catalysts from various departments continued their hands-on training. These officials were being specially groomed to drive digital transformation across government sectors using cutting-edge technology.
AI Champions would serve as key agents of digital change within their respective departments. Their responsibilities include formulating a clear AI strategy, identifying AI projects in collaboration with experts, leading their implementation, assessing relevant technologies, and facilitating upskilling within departments.
AI Catalysts would support the digital transformation journey within their departments. Their roles cover project management, knowledge-sharing as subject matter experts, facilitating effective communication and collaboration, supporting capacity-building initiatives, and monitoring and evaluating AI projects.
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