RT team
Google has introduced an array of tools, programs, and partnerships aimed at empowering Indian developers and startups in the AI revolution. At the Google I/O Connect Bengaluru 2024 event, the tech giant announced its collaboration with the MeitY Startup Hub to train 10,000 startups in AI. Additionally, Google is expanding access to its AI models, including Gemini and Gemma, and enhancing software development with AI-powered features, all with a focus on responsible AI.
In the Gemini era, Google aims to democratize the power of multimodal AI. It is broadening the scope of questions that can be addressed through advances in long context windows, with over 1.5 million developers globally using Gemini models. The fastest way to build with Gemini is through Google AI Studio, which has a significant developer base in India.
Ambharish Kenghe, Vice President at Google, emphasized the company’s decade-long investment in AI, leading to the Gemini era. He highlighted AI as a transformative force that requires continuous innovation, and expressed Google’s commitment to helping Indian developers create solutions for both local and global needs.
Google’s initiatives focus on three transformative areas in India: multimodal, multilingual, and mobile AI. The company is working with MeitY Startup Hub to support 10,000 Indian startups through Google Cloud credits, an AI-first programming curriculum, and national initiatives like the GenAI Hackathon and AI Startup Bootcamp.
Developers in India now have enhanced access to powerful AI models, such as Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemma 2. The Google DeepMind India team also announced updates to support developers building language solutions, including the expansion of Project Vaani in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), which provides over 14,000 hours of speech data across 58 languages.
Moreover, Google introduced the IndicGenBench benchmark and open-sourced the composition of language models (CALM), enabling developers to combine specialized language models with Gemma models. The MatFormer framework allows developers to mix and match AI models for optimal performance.
Seshu Ajjarapu, Senior Director at Google DeepMind, praised India’s leading role in the AI revolution, noting AI’s potential to address major challenges across various sectors. Google remains committed to supporting developers and entrepreneurs in advancing technology that makes a significant impact.
Additionally, Google is introducing Google Wallet APIs, India-specific pricing for the Google Maps Platform, and collaboration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The company will soon launch the agricultural landscape understanding (ALU) Research API to enhance data-driven agricultural practices.
Jeanine Banks, Vice President and General Manager of Developer X at Google, stated that AI is transforming software development, making it essential for all developers to incorporate AI into their projects. Google aims to simplify this integration across various platforms, ensuring that all developers can easily build with AI.
