New Delhi, August 17, 2026: Smile Foundation has made artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled learning a mandatory component of its 21st Century Skills programme under its Skill Training and Employability Programme (STeP), as the non-profit looks to equip underserved youth with skills required for an increasingly technology-driven workplace.
The AI-based learning initiative, currently operational across STeP centres in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, is expected to benefit more than 15,000 young people annually.
The initiative comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address on August 15, announced that the government will train one crore (10 million) young people in artificial intelligence over the next year, alongside a separate plan to offer free online coaching for competitive examinations, underscoring AI readiness as an emerging national priority for India’s youth workforce.
The programme brings AI into both classroom learning and instructor-led training. Smile Foundation has also upgraded its Learning Management System (LMS) to incorporate AI-enabled tools that students and trainers can use during the training process.
Under the new framework, trainers have access to an AI Trainer Mentor, designed to help simplify concepts, provide teaching guidance and suggest relevant examples. Students, meanwhile, can use an AI Tutor for real-time learning assistance.
The programme also includes an AI Career Advisor, which uses learners’ interests to suggest personalised job roles across up to three areas of interest. An AI Interview Coach allows students to practise mock interviews, receive AI-generated feedback and work on communication, confidence and workplace readiness.
“Artificial Intelligence is gradually transforming the way we learn, work and build careers. For young people about to enter the workforce, particularly those from underserved communities, access to these tools should not become a digital divide,” said Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, Smile Foundation.
“By integrating AI into our 21st Century Skills programme, we are enabling learners to experience and use AI practically, whether it is to understand a concept, explore a career, prepare for an interview or build confidence before entering the workplace,” he added.
The move comes as entry-level jobs across sectors increasingly require workers to interact with digital and AI-enabled tools. For organisations working on employability and skilling, the challenge is increasingly shifting from basic digital literacy to ensuring that young workers can use emerging technologies effectively in real-world situations.
Smile Foundation trained 10,546 youth during FY26, of whom 7,380 secured employment, translating into a placement rate of around 70%. The candidates found entry-level opportunities across data management, inventory management, business process outsourcing, sales, retail and marketing.
The foundation said AI-based tools are now being integrated alongside conventional communication, employability and workplace skills, rather than being treated as a standalone technology module.
The objective, it said, is to familiarise young people with AI before they enter the workforce and help them use the technology for learning, career discovery, interview preparation and workplace readiness.