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), aimed at preparing Indian newsrooms for an AI-powered future.
The tech giant said the new initiative underscores its ongoing commitment to supporting news organizations across India by providing access to cutting-edge AI tools and training.
“Continuing our commitment to collaborate with news organizations 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 (IIMC), Department of New Media,” the company said in a statement.
The academy will offer a 10-week hybrid training program designed to provide both foundational knowledge and practical skills in artificial intelligence. It targets journalists, newsroom staff, and media educators, with a focus on integrating AI tools into the editorial workflow.
Participants will be trained to use Google’s AI tools—such as NotebookLM, Gemini, AI Studio, and Pinpoint—to improve newsroom efficiency, streamline research processes, and support diverse and in-depth storytelling.
Developed in academic partnership with IIMC and supported by training from How India Lives, the program will feature weekly deep-dive sessions, hands-on exercises, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving. The initiative aims to help participants effectively incorporate AI into their daily reporting and content production tasks.
“We’re also proud to support IIMC in training media educators and students across its campuses in six cities in India,” Google added.
The initiative represents a significant step in helping India’s media industry adopt responsible AI practices and foster innovation in storytelling.
“As AI transforms journalism, this initiative will help them 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,” said Nimish Rustagi, Registrar, Indian Institute of Mass Communication. (Source: IANS)
