Google made a significant announcement at its Google I/O Connect Bengaluru 2024 event, unveiling a range of India-centric AI models, tools, and initiatives. The tech giant introduced new artificial intelligence models and a benchmarking tool aimed at empowering the Indian AI community. Here are the key highlights from the event:
1. Gemma 2 AI Model: Google granted access to the Gemma 2 AI model to all developers, emphasizing its customization for Indian languages.
2. Partnership with MeitY Startup Hub: Google joined forces with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub to bolster India’s startup ecosystem with AI support.
3. Gemini Models: Over 1.5 million developers worldwide use Gemini models to create AI-powered apps. Google now provides developers in India with access to the Gemini 1.5 Pro model, featuring a two million token context window.
4. Gemma 2 SLM: The Gemma 2 small language model (SLM) was released, catering to developers looking to leverage multilingual solutions in diverse Indian languages.
5. IndicGenBench: Google introduced IndicGenBench, a benchmarking tool covering 29 regional languages to enhance AI development for Indian languages.
6. CALM Framework: The Composition of Language Models (CALM) framework was open-sourced, enabling developers to fuse specialized language models with Gemma for enhanced solutions.
7. Initiatives for Startups: Google will provide up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits to eligible AI startups in India. Furthermore, the company will offer mentorship, programming, and curriculum support for AI development through programs like Startup School and Appscale Academy.
8. Gen AI Hackathon: Google announced a nationwide Gen AI Hackathon, a three-month initiative supporting early-stage startups in their AI endeavors.
With these new AI models, tools, and initiatives, Google is set to play a pivotal role in fostering innovation and growth within the Indian AI community, paving the way for advanced technological developments in the country’s startup ecosystem.
