Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec 20: Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and said that Google is working on making text and voice internet searches available in over 100 Indian languages.
“I’m here to see progress being made from our $10 billion, 10-year India Digitization Fund (IDF), and share new ways. We’re helping to advance India’s digital future at our Google for India event,” he said.
He also said that Google is working to build a single, unified AI model that will be capable of handling over 100 Indian languages across speech and text – part of our global effort to bring the world’s 1,000 most-spoken languages online, and to help people access knowledge and information in their preferred language.
“We recently added nine new Indian languages, like Assamese, Bhojpuri, Konkani etc. We are working on one powerful AI model where we can get information through thousands of languages,” he added.
Separately, Pichai detailed his conversation with PM Modi in a blog post, noting that they spoke about how Google supports startups and small businesses, invests in cybersecurity, offers education and skill training, and uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) in industries like agriculture and healthcare.
Google’s CEO, who was born in India, stated that the business is concentrating on startups from that country and that out of its $300 million investment in startups, about one-fourth will go to companies with female leaders.
According to him, the technology is impacting people’s lives on a global scale, necessitating the creation of fair and responsible regulations.
“Given the scale and technology leadership it (India) will have, it’s important to make sure you are balancing, putting in safeguards for people. You’re creating an innovative framework, so that companies can innovate on top of a certainty in the legal framework. I think it is an important moment in time. India will also be a big export economy. It will benefit from an open and connected internet and getting that balance right will be important,” he said.
Notably, Google announced plans to invest $10 billion in India over the next five to seven years in July 2020. The search engine giant is hoping to hasten the uptake of digital services in this important international market.
There are still so many opportunities, Pichai stated during a speech at the Google India event. Pichai praised the government’s ambition for a ‘Digital India’, saying that it had aided in accelerating national progress. He also said that India will be a big export economy and the pace of technological change in the country has been extraordinary.
Speaking at the Google India event, Pichai said that there’s so much opportunity still ahead. “Glad to be able to see it up close, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit,” the Google chief said.
Praising the government’s Digital India vision, Pichai said that it has helped to accelerate the progress we’re seeing across the country.
He also assured his support towards India’s G20 presidency. “I’m excited for India to share its experience with the world as it takes over the G20 presidency in 2023,” he said.
Thank you for a great meeting today PM @narendramodi. Inspiring to see the rapid pace of technological change under your leadership. Look forward to continuing our strong partnership and supporting India's G20 presidency to advance an open, connected internet that works for all. pic.twitter.com/eEOHvGwbqO
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) December 19, 2022
Inspiring to see the rapid pace of technological change under your leadership. Look forward to continuing our strong partnership & supporting India’s G20 presidency to advance an open, connected internet that works for all,” the Google CEO said in a tweet.
