Reliance’s ‘Hanooman’: Mukesh Ambani backed ChatGPT to be launched in March
In a significant move towards developing indigenous artificial intelligence (AI) in India, the BharatGPT group, supported by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries and top engineering schools in the country, aims to launch its first ChatGPT-style service next month.
The model, named Hanooman, is a collaborative effort with Indian Institute of Technology universities, particularly in Bombay, and is bolstered by support from Reliance Jio Infocomm and Centre.
During a recent technology conference in Mumbai, the consortium, which includes Reliance and eight affiliated universities, provided a preview of the model. Hanooman showcased interactions in various local languages across different fields including healthcare, governance, financial services, and education.
Ganesh Ramakrishnan, chair of IIT Bombay’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, mentioned that Hanooman will also feature speech-to-text capabilities for enhanced user-friendliness.
This initiative marks a unique private-public partnership in India and involves major players in diverse sectors working together to advance AI technology. Other startups like Sarvam and Krutrim, supported by prominent investors, are also developing open-sourced AI models tailored for the Indian market.
Reliance Jio’s plans include building customized AI models for specific applications, such as ‘Jio Brain,’ to utilize AI capabilities for its vast network of subscribers.
AI systems such as LLMs leverage generative AI to learn from extensive data and generate natural responses, similar to the successful ChatGPT model by OpenAI.
BharatGPT’s efforts, alongside other startups and major corporations, signify a growing interest in advancing AI technology in India and establishing the country as a hub for innovation in artificial intelligence.