FORMER META INDIA HEAD; KIRTHIGA REDDY, LAUNCHES AI KIRAN TO EMPOWER INDIAN WOMEN (21.04.25)

Authored by Mr. Abhishek (Symbiosis Law School, Noida)

The Indian government recognised the need for gender inclusivity and took a significant step toward gender inclusivity in artificial intelligence, Kirthiga Reddy, former Meta India head and co-founder of Verix, has officially launched AI Kiran, an ambitious initiative aimed at empowering Indian women in AI. The launch coincides with UN Creativity and Innovation Day, marking a strategic moment to highlight innovation-driven gender equity.

INTRODUCTION

AI Kiran is being launched in collaboration with the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and INK Women, and brings together a wide network of public and private partners to address gender disparities in the rapidly evolving AI space.

“With India projected to be a global AI powerhouse, empowering its women in this space isn’t just local impact — it’s global transformation,” said Kirthiga Reddy, who was the first employee and Managing Director of Facebook India (now Meta) and later the first female investing partner at SoftBank’s Vision Fund.

Bridging the Gender Gap in AI

Despite the growing number of women enrolling in STEM fields in India, a stark gender gap persists in professional AI roles. As per current estimates, women account for only 33 per cent of GenAI roles at the junior level, with representation dropping to just 19 per cent at senior levels.

AI Kiran aims to address this imbalance by creating structured opportunities for mentorship, learning, recognition, and funding, focusing specifically on women professionals, students, and researchers from diverse disciplines.

“It is towards building a cross-functional AI community. The initiative is hosted on the Manthan Platform, enabling access for a wide and diverse audience of professionals, students, and researchers across India,” Reddy explained.

Blockchain-Powered Recognition and Global Visibility

One of the standout features of AI Kiran is its use of blockchain technology to ensure credibility and shareability of achievements.

“All recognitions under AI Kiran are digitally verified using blockchain-powered credentialing, ensuring authenticity, transparency, and global shareability,” Reddy said.

She added that the initiative will provide mentorship, curated learning programmes, branding support, and high-impact events, creating “valuable opportunities for growth, visibility, and leadership.”

“It is also about connecting women across geographies,” she emphasized.

Strategic Collaborations and Global Partners

AI Kiran is not a solo initiative. It has emerged from a collaborative framework, combining support from the Indian government, civil society organisations, and global networks.

“To ensure that women are a leading force in shaping and operating transformative technologies, a collaborative approach is required between the government, private sector and civil society organisations,” Reddy emphasized.

The initiative is launched in association with top organizations such as Nasscom, 100 GIGA, AspireForHer, Udaiti Foundation, Youth Ki Awaaz, and Karya.

On a global front, AI Kiran is partnering with platforms like AnitaB.org, SheTO, and Neythri, ensuring Indian women in AI are not just included but recognized internationally.

“With these partners, we are creating avenues for ongoing learning and collaboration, mentorship programmes, funding pathways, and building a global network of women leaders,” she noted.

A Milestone Launch: 250 Women Leaders to Be Recognized

As part of its first phase, AI Kiran will recognize 250 prominent women who are already making a mark in education, healthcare, sustainability, and enterprise tech.

“This launch will set the stage for a multi-year process of recognising, growing and nurturing women leaders in AI,” Reddy stated.

Bringing in interdisciplinary perspectives, these women will help shape responsible and impactful AI solutions in India and beyond.

“Over the next year, in conjunction with our partners, we aim to reach a million women in AI across our programmes,” she added.

Fundraising Drive Begins: $3 Million Target

To support this expansive initiative, AI Kiran has launched a fundraising campaign via the INK Women Foundation. The goal is to raise $3 million to power a series of large-scale initiatives.

“Our initial target of $3M supports the ambitious AI Kiran initiative with the resources for large-scale summits, academic and industry partnerships, scholarships, and sharing stories of women in AI in India on a global stage,” Reddy announced.

These funds will enable high-impact activities such as summits, mentorship drives, research collaborations, and storytelling campaigns focused on women AI leaders from India.

About Kirthiga Reddy and Verix

Kirthiga Reddy is currently the CEO and co-founder of Verix, a global trust-tech platform. With her impressive career spanning Facebook India to SoftBank’s Vision Fund, Reddy brings a wealth of experience in scaling innovative technologies and inclusive leadership.

Through AI Kiran, Reddy is channelling her expertise into a visionary platform aimed at positioning India not only as an AI hub but also as a global leader in gender-inclusive innovation.

India’s AI Future: Women at the Helm

With India’s AI market projected to reach $17 billion by 2027, initiatives like AI Kiran are not just timely but essential.

By equipping women with tools, support, and global visibility, AI Kiran is poised to transform India’s AI landscape and ensure that women are key architects of the country’s digital and technological future.

As Reddy puts it best:

“Empowering its women in this space isn’t just local impact — it’s global transformation.”