Kirthiga Reddy Launches ‘AI Kiran’ to Empower Indian Women in Artificial Intelligence

To address the underrepresentation of women in GenAI roles, Kirthiga Reddy, the first employee and ex-Managing Director of Facebook India (now Meta), has announced a women-centric AI platform called AI Kiran. This initiative seeks to connect, mentor, fund, and certify Indian women in AI, with a focus on impactful sectors like healthcare, education, and sustainability. The platform aims to place Indian women at the heart of the global AI revolution.

Why in the News?

Kirthiga Reddy, former Meta India head and co-founder of Verix, has launched AI Kiran, a platform aimed at empowering Indian women in AI, with support from the Indian government and global organisations, on April 21, 2025, aligning with UN World Creativity and Innovation Day.

About AI Kiran

• Launched by: Kirthiga Reddy, CEO & Co-founder, Verix
• Launch Date: April 21, 2025, coinciding with UN World Creativity and Innovation Day

Purpose: To empower Indian women in Artificial Intelligence (AI) through,

• Mentorship
• Access to funding
• Blockchain-verified recognition
• Cross-sector collaboration

Key Features of the Platform

Focus on domains such as,

• Healthcare
• Education
• Sustainability
• Aims to build a cross-functional, global AI community for women
• Leverages blockchain technology for secure, verifiable credentials
• Supported by the Indian government and international organizations

Background of Kirthiga Reddy

• Former Managing Director of Facebook India
• First female investing partner at SoftBank Vision Fund (>$130 billion AI-focused fund)
• Currently CEO & Co-founder of Verix, a global trust-tech platform

Need for the Initiative

• Despite a high number of women in STEM education in India:
• Only 33% of junior GenAI roles are held by women
• Drops to just 19% at the senior level
• AI Kiran aims to bridge this gender gap in the AI industry