Google has launched new AI tools and partnerships aimed at empowering Indian developers and startups, including collaborations with MeitY Startup Hub for training 10,000 startups. The initiatives encompass expanding AI model access, introducing new language tools and frameworks, as well as offering significant discounts on Google services for developers. The goal is to harness AI’s capabilities for local solutions with global impacts.
On Wednesday, Google revealed a slew of cutting-edge AI tools and initiatives aimed squarely at empowering Indian developers and startups. This unveiling took place during the Google I/O Connect Bengaluru 2024 event, where the tech giant shared its collaboration with the MeitY Startup Hub to provide training for about 10,000 startups focused on artificial intelligence. Access to AI models like Gemini and Gemma is being broadened too, marking yet another significant step toward integrating AI into the fabric of Indian innovation.
The company is also pushing forward with new language tools from Google DeepMind India while enhancing software development through AI-driven features, emphasizing responsible AI practices. Google is in what it calls the Gemini era, aiming to tap into the full potential of multimodality—this will allow more complex and nuanced questions to be asked of AI, offering a new layer of interactivity.
Right now, there are over 1.5 million developers worldwide leveraging Gemini models through various Google tools. The fastest way identified to innovate with Gemini is through Google AI Studio, which boasts one of the largest developer communities in India. According to Ambharish Kenghe, vice-president at Google, “AI is a powerful enabler and a major inflection point that will require us to continuously reimagine what’s possible.”
Kenghe also noted the expansive opportunities in the realms of multimodal, mobile, and multilingual AI for Indian innovators, emphasizing that these technologies could tailor solutions addressing local challenges while influencing the international landscape of AI development.
With an eye on democratizing AI, Google has focused on three transformative areas: multimodality, multilingualism, and mobility. Partnering with MeitY Startup Hub, the tech giant aims to assist an impressive 10,000 Indian startups on their AI journeys by providing Google Cloud credits and launching a nationwide GenAI Hackathon and AI Startup Bootcamp, among other initiatives.
The new capabilities for developers revolve around expanded access to advanced AI models, like the Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemma 2, now equipped with a remarkable 2 million token context window. Updates from the Google DeepMind India team reveal that Project Vaani is expanding in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, providing a substantial trove of speech data collected across regional languages.
Moreover, the team introduced IndicGenBench, designed to evaluate the proficiency of large language models in Indic languages. They also open-sourced the Composition of Language Models (CALM) framework, which permits developers to seamlessly integrate specialized models with Gemma tools. On another front, the MatFormer framework has been launched to allow greater customization of AI models for optimal performance.
Reiterating India’s pivotal role in the AI landscape, Seshu Ajjarapu from Google DeepMind said, “AI has the power to address some of the biggest challenges of our time across many sectors and industries.” He expressed a strong commitment from Google to assist developers in crafting technology that can genuinely improve lives.
In addition to AI innovations, Google is enhancing tools like Google Wallet APIs, which will facilitate smoother integrations of loyalty programs and gift cards. Changes are also being made to Google Maps Platform where Indian developers will benefit from country-specific pricing, with reductions as steep as 70% on several APIs. This will additionally support developers engaged with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), offering discounts of up to 90% on certain services.
Jeanine Banks, VP and general manager of Developer X at Google stated, “AI is transforming the very fundamentals of software development.” She underscored Google’s vision of making it easier for developers to build AI-capable applications across all platforms, whether web, mobile, or cloud. Lastly, an Agricultural Landscape Understanding Research API is on the horizon, meant to usher agricultural practices into an age of data-driven efficiency.
In summary, Google is taking substantial and strategic steps to elevate the capabilities of Indian developers by providing access to advanced AI technology and resources. Their partnerships and programs reflect a commitment to support local innovations that have global implications. With new tools and platforms emerging, Indian startups are positioned to lead the charge in AI advancements, potentially reshaping how industries tackle some of the most pressing challenges today.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
