New Delhi: Google is all set to ramp up its Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives in India and aiming to seamlessly integrate its AI across all its products to better serve the Indian audience and book more profit as well. This move is heating up its competitors among U.S. tech giants and the Companies Sitting in the Silicon Valley in a market where others seem to be lagging behind.
During the 10th edition of the Google for India event on Thursday, the company announced the deployment of its advanced AI model, Gemini, to improve search, visual recognition, and language processing. These features are particularly crucial for India, the world’s most populous country, where voice commands and support for multiple languages are essential. Notably, over 40% of Gemini’s Indian users engage with it through voice, and Google is eager to tap into this trend. The company is rolling out “Gemini Live,” an AI assistant that allows for natural, free-flowing voice conversations in Hindi, with support for eight more Indian languages, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Urdu, coming soon.
Google is also expanding its generative AI tool for search, called AI Overviews, to support more Indian languages such as Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil in the upcoming weeks. However, early reviews of the tool’s performance in Hindi have not been very encouraging.
Another area where Google is pushing the envelope is visual search. Google Lens is more popular in India than anywhere else in the world, and the company is experimenting with video-based searches, enabling users to ask complex questions about moving objects in videos. While India may be seen as lagging in the global AI race, it remains the largest open market for tech giants. Having entered India 20 years ago, Google has amassed between 700 million to 800 million users, a massive base that can accelerate AI adoption across the country.
This AI push comes as global tech giants pour billions into India to capture users for their AI products. Although OpenAI’s ChatGPT is available in India, it lacks significant localization for a market as vast and diverse as India.
Google Maps is also getting AI-focused updates designed specifically for India. New features include AI-generated summaries of places and an enhanced search option allowing users to look for specific experiences rather than just locations. By analyzing billions of reviews and images, Google aims to turn Maps into a platform where users can discover local businesses and attractions in new ways.
Additionally, Google is introducing new AI-powered tools to help Indian merchants build a more robust digital presence. One such feature in its Merchant Center allows businesses to create animated video clips from static product photos, making their online profiles more engaging. Another tool will automatically convert photos of restaurant menus into formatted online listings. Merchants can also link their social media accounts to their Google Business Profiles to showcase deals alongside listings from platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, EazyDiner, and MagicPin.
Moreover, Google is adding an option for merchants to include chat features, using SMS or WhatsApp, directly in their search listings to enhance customer interaction.
On Thursday, Google also introduced a set of frameworks, offering recommendations to help India make the most of AI’s potential. The tech giant estimates that AI could unlock around $4 trillion in economic value for India by 2030. These proposals emphasize the need for investments in computing capacity and open datasets, modernizing skills development programs, promoting inclusive AI access, and encouraging AI adoption by governments and small businesses.
“We are at a critical juncture in AI development in India. With India’s exceptional tech talent, growing economy, and thriving startup ecosystem, the country is poised to become a global leader in AI,” Google stated in its overview document.
