Google has announced ambitious plans to empower 10,000 Indian startups in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a collaboration with MeitY ‘Startup Hub’. This initiative aims to provide extensive training and resources to foster innovation and leadership in AI technologies among Indian developers and entrepreneurs.
During the ‘I/O Connect’ event, Google unveiled a series of tools, programs, and partnerships designed to bolster the capabilities of Indian developers in AI. One of the highlights includes expanded access to Google’s advanced AI models, featuring enhancements like the two million token context window in Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemma 2. These models are expected to enable developers to create cutting-edge solutions tailored to both local and global challenges.
Ambharish Kenghe, Vice President of Google, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting Indian innovators in harnessing the full potential of AI. “We’re dedicated to fostering solutions that not only cater to India’s unique requirements but also contribute to shaping the future of AI globally,” he stated.
Furthermore, Google introduced significant advancements in multimodal, mobile, and multilingual AI technologies, reflecting the vast opportunities these innovations offer across various sectors. The company highlighted its collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for Project Vaani, which provides developers access to extensive speech data across 58 languages, collected from 80,000 speakers nationwide.
In addition to AI advancements, Google also announced initiatives aimed at simplifying integration for developers. This includes the introduction of Google Wallet APIs to streamline the incorporation of loyalty programs, tickets, and gift cards, enhancing user experiences across platforms.
Moreover, Google is introducing India-specific pricing for the Google Maps Platform, offering developers up to 70% lower costs on most APIs. Collaborating with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Google further extends support by providing up to 90% discounts on select Google Maps Platform APIs for developers building solutions on the ONDC platform.
Google’s commitment to enhancing agricultural practices in India was also highlighted, with the imminent launch of the Agricultural Landscape Understanding Research API. This tool aims to leverage AI to make agricultural practices more data-driven and efficient, addressing critical challenges in the sector.
Senior Director Seshu Ajjarapu from Google DeepMind underscored the transformative potential of AI across sectors, from agriculture to social enterprises, in addressing global challenges effectively.
