On Thursday, the Maharashtra government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with search engine giant Google to utilize artificial intelligence for agriculture, healthcare, and education solutions.

The MoU was signed at the company's office here by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sanjay Gupta, country head and vice president of Google India, and state Chief Secretary Nitin Kareer.

"A few weeks back, I met Gupta ji, and we talked about how AI affects our lives. He informed me that their different centres of excellence create different platforms and applications that change people's lives and theirs. I told him about the government's plan to set up a centre of excellence in Nagpur. We both thought this could be a beneficial partnership," Fadnavis said.

According to Fadnavis, This MoU is a bold step in advancing 'AIForMaharashtra' Google's AI leadership and technology expertise will help the Maharashtra Government unlock new possibilities in the State's growth and development. In his opinion, AI is the key to unlocking a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for the State, and we are excited to partner with Google on this journey.

Mr Fadnavis said this collaboration will empower citizens with critical future-ready skills, revolutionize essential sectors like healthcare and agriculture, and create a thriving environment for the Maharashtra AI startups through the AI Center of Excellence at IIIT Nagpur. 

In a Social Media post, Google India remarked that technology has the potential to deliver boundless benefits to the economy, society, and people. They also shared their excitement about joining hands with the Maharashtra government on AI solutions that empower citizens, create new opportunities, and build a thriving innovation ecosystem.