A groundbreaking initiative supported by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd. and leading Indian engineering schools are gearing up to launch its first ChatGPT-style service in March.
The consortium, named BharatGPT, is poised to propel India into the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with a unique approach that caters to local languages and diverse sectors.
BharatGPT Unveils Hanooman
During a recent technology conference in Mumbai, BharatGPT provided a sneak peek of its large language model, known as Hanooman. The model was showcased through interactions in various Indian languages, demonstrating its versatility and potential applications.
Aims and Ambitions
BharatGPT envisions Hanooman playing a pivotal role in four main fields: healthcare, governance, financial services, and education. The AI model is designed to operate in 11 local languages, addressing the diverse linguistic landscape of India. This ambitious project is a collaborative effort between BharatGPT, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., and esteemed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) universities.
Notably, BharatGPT represents a distinctive private-public partnership, involving major players from various sectors. Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, a key contributor, is joined by eight affiliated IITs, forming a collaborative ecosystem reminiscent of the traditional Indian joint family structure.
Hanooman’s features:
The Hanooman model is designed to cater to a range of applications. In a video presentation, a motorcycle mechanic interacted with the AI in Tamil, showcasing the model’s accessibility. Similarly, a banker engaged in Hindi, and a developer used it to write computer code in Hyderabad. This versatility positions Hanooman as a potentially transformative tool in different sectors.
A notable feature of Hanooman is its speech-to-text capabilities, making it more user-friendly in a country where millions cannot read or write. This innovative approach aims to bridge the literacy gap and enhance accessibility for a broader population. Reliance Jio is set to build customized models for specific uses, further expanding the practical applications of this AI initiative.
Local Startups Join the AI Wave:
Beyond BharatGPT, several startups in India are also venturing into the AI space. Companies like Sarvam and Krutrim, backed by prominent venture capital investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Vinod Khosla’s fund, are actively developing open-sourced AI models tailored for the Indian market. This trend reflects the growing interest and investment in AI technology within the country.
Jio Brain
Reliance Jio, already a major player in the telecom and retail sectors, is not stopping at Hanooman. The conglomerate is concurrently working on Jio Brain, a platform set to utilize AI across its vast network of approximately 450 million subscribers. This signifies a broader commitment to integrating AI into various aspects of daily life.
Positive takeaway
In a rapidly evolving landscape, BharatGPT’s Hanooman emerges as a beacon of innovation, ushering India into the AI race. The unique collaboration, diverse applications, and emphasis on local languages position this initiative as a pioneering force in the country’s technological advancement.
As the March launch approaches, all eyes are on Hanooman to see how it will contribute to India’s aspirations of becoming a significant player in the global AI arena.
