Google has announced a new initiative aimed at strengthening AI education in India with the launch of its AI Research Foundations curriculum. It was announced during Google I/O Connect India 2026. The programme is designed to help students, developers and researchers gain practical knowledge of building and fine tuning large language models (LLMs), the technology that powers AI chatbots such as Gemini.
The 56 hour course is available free of cost through the Google Skills platform and has been developed by Google DeepMind; it is intended to provide learners with a deeper understanding of advanced artificial intelligence concepts rather than just introducing them to generative AI tools. Those who complete the programme will receive Google Cloud Skill badges and certificates, while the company also plans to expand the curriculum’s reach through partnerships with NASSCOM, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and AVPN.
What the Google AI Research Foundations Programme Offers
According to the company, the AI Research Foundations curriculum has been designed for learners who want to move beyond using AI tools and understand how the underlying technology works. Rather than focusing only on basic artificial intelligence concepts, the programme introduces participants to the process of developing and improving large language models.
The 56 hour curriculum includes learning modules on:
- Building large language models (LLMs).
- Fine tuning LLMs for different applications.
- Understanding the technology behind AI chatbots such as Gemini.
- Advanced AI research techniques.
- Practical experience with frontier AI technologies.
According to the company, the curriculum is intended to equip learners with practical knowledge of modern artificial intelligence development. By combining theoretical concepts with hands on learning, the programme aims to help participants understand the technologies that power today’s generative AI systems.
The course has been developed by Google DeepMind, which is Google’s AI research division, and is available through the Google Skills platform for free. Learners who successfully complete the programme will receive Google Cloud Skill badges and certificates as a formal recognition of the skills accomplished during the course.
Google also announced that it will work with several organisations to expand the programme’s reach across India. As part of these collaborations:
- NASSCOM will support efforts to scale the curriculum.
- IISc Bengaluru will help make the programme available across educational institutions.
- AVPN will work with local partners to offer the curriculum through the Google.org APAC AI Opportunity Fund.
These partnerships are intended to ensure that more students, developers and researchers can access the training through academic institutions and community networks.
The launch reflects the company’s growing focus on strengthening AI education in India as demand for skilled artificial intelligence professionals continues to increase. Large language models have become the foundation of many generative artificial intelligence applications, and understanding how they are developed has become a very valuable skill for researchers and developers.
Unlike introductory AI courses that typically explain how to use AI powered tools, the AI Research Foundations programme focuses on the technologies behind those tools. The curriculum is designed to help learners understand the process of building and refining artificial intelligence models, while also exposing them to advanced research techniques used in the field.
Also read: Google Wants to Encourage AI Education in India With It’s New Teacher Training Partnerships
With the launch of the free 56 hour AI Research Foundations curriculum, Google is expanding access to advanced artificial intelligence education for students, developers and researchers in India. Alongside the learning programme, the company announced new enterprise artificial intelligence capabilities, cybersecurity tools, education initiatives, healthcare collaborations and language support updates, reflecting a broader push to strengthen AI adoption and innovation across the country. The company also aims to make advanced AI learning more widely accessible while supporting the growth of India’s AI ecosystem through partnerships with educational institutions and industry organisations.
