Google announced a new initiative to train 10,000 Indian startups in artificial intelligence (AI) in collaboration with MeitY’s Startup Hub. This move comes as Google expands access to its AI models and introduces new language tools for developers in India.
During the ‘I/O Connect’ event held in Bengaluru, Google unveiled a range of tools, programs, and partnerships aimed at empowering Indian developers and startups to lead the global AI revolution. With the launch of Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemma 2, developers in India now have broader access to Google’s advanced AI models, featuring a two million token context window.
Ambharish Kenghe, Google’s Vice President, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting Indian innovators in utilizing AI to address unique local challenges and contribute to the global AI landscape. The introduction of Google AI Studio‘s developer platform enables developers in India to leverage Gemini efficiently and effectively.
Google’s DeepMind India team expanded Project Vaani in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to provide developers with extensive speech data in 58 languages collected from over 80,000 speakers. The team also introduced IndicGenBench and open-sourced CALM to evaluate the capabilities of language models on Indic languages.
Furthermore, Google announced the introduction of Google Wallet APIs for simplified integration of loyalty programs, tickets, and gift cards. Developers using the Google Maps Platform will benefit from India-specific pricing, offering up to 70% lower costs on various APIs.
Google is also partnering with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to provide developers building for ONDC with discounts of up to 90% on select Google Maps Platform APIs. Seshu Ajjarapu, Google DeepMind’s Senior Director, highlighted the potential of AI to address challenges across various sectors such as consumer experiences, agriculture, and social enterprises.
Additionally, Google will soon launch the Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Research API, a tool designed to enhance data-driven and efficient agricultural practices. This initiative underscores Google’s ongoing efforts to support Indian developers in leveraging AI for innovation and societal impact.
