Google For India Event 2023 Highlights: Generative AI, Made in India Pixels & all that was announced،
Google held its 9th The annual ‘Google for India’ 2023 event was held yesterday at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, where the company announced what it plans to do in the country over the next year. The event kicked off with Scott Beaumont, President of Google, highlighting the importance of technology in everyday life. He mentioned that currently, 45% of Indians own a smartphone and this number is only increasing with each passing day.
He mentioned that Google Maps and Google Search are two of the most used services in the country, creating more than 920 million connections in a month. Beaumont highlighted around 200,000 developers on Google Play who are developing not just for India but for the world. The event then highlighted some major developments that Google plans to implement this year.
Generative AI and its possibilities
Google has announced that generative AI is the way forward. The company announced a series of generative AI launches across the Google lineup, such as Google Search, GPay, and Google Cloud. Google claims to focus on AI in 4 areas: commerce, user security, expanding the reach of formal credit, and better AI capabilities for each user.
Google has announced new features for Search Generative Experience (SGE) in India. Google will add AI-powered previews to its search results, which will help users access information quickly and in a visually rich format. It will help you explore places and activities more seamlessly because it will take user reviews into account. Google will help Indians easily navigate and access information on over 100 government programs focused on areas such as employment, housing, healthcare, agriculture, and more.
Google has introduced a new AI-powered innovation to Google Lens that will help people search for skin conditions similar to what they see on their skin with an image. Also for businesses, Google announced 2 new features: Business Messages and Merchant Center. While business messages will allow businesses to talk to consumers from the search phase itself, the Merchant Center will help small and medium-sized businesses create catalogs on the search function using AI. Both of these features will be rolled out early next year.
Google Cloud
This is done to help farmers benefit from ONDC. Google Cloud partners with Sign Catch to help farmer organizations create catalogs and connect with merchants across the country. They will be able to use the power of Google Cloud’s generative AI and language capabilities in just a few clicks and transact at the scale they want.
Google Cloud partners with Cert-in to strengthen cybersecurity training and skills in India. Google will train 1,000 government officials in cyber defense best practices, including the use of generative AI and conducting expert-led cybersecurity cycles. It will offer 100,000 scholarships for Google cybersecurity certification, taught by Google experts.
Partnering with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to use generative AI and language models to make government services more language responsive, Google Cloud will launch a Generative AI Center of Excellence and language.
Google Cloud also announced that it is working with Axis My India to democratize information on citizen services with a super app called ‘A-App’ that will use Google Cloud’s scalable and secure infrastructure to reach over 250 million of Indian homes. One of the main uses of this super app will be to show Ayushmann Bharat Hospital near a certain individual.
Google Maps
Google Maps will soon allow Indian users to book metro tickets directly through the mapping app as the company partners with ONDC to make things easier. The experience will be rolled out in the coming months in metropolitan cities and will be available through buyer applications integrated into the open network.
Google Play Protection
Google announced new real-time scanning features for Google Play Protect that will improve security for Android users by making it harder for malicious apps using malware to evade detection. Google Play Protect is a protection system built into Android that scans the device for unwanted software and malware. The system draws on data derived from 125 billion daily scans. The tool will alert users when it detects suspicious activity in an app, warning them not to proceed with its installation. It works for apps from the Google Play Store, as well as third-party apps and APK files from external sources. The tool will be rolled out globally in the coming months.
Google Chat
Google will launch Meera Chat in 11 Indian languages along with $50 million to NGOs.
Google My Amma Program
Google also highlighted one of its special initiatives, the My Amma program. Under this program, Google claims to have helped 1.75 lakh mothers across India by providing them with essential health data.
Google Pay
In India, where the majority of the population still lacks access to secure financial services, Google has announced a series of credit products that will help small businesses and consumers. To do this, Google partnered with lenders and financing companies. The fintech company will provide loans in sachets or small notes starting from Rs. 9,999. 15,000 to traders in collaboration with DMI Finance. To help merchants meet their capital needs, this will allow them to obtain a line of credit in partnership with ePayLater.
For consumers, the company will expand its personal loan portfolio by partnering with Axis Bank, which will make its personal loans available on Google Pay.
Affordable HP Chromebooks from Google
To strengthen digital education in the country, Google has partnered with HP to manufacture affordable HP Chromebooks in India, powered by Google ChromeOS operating system. The laptops will be more cost-effective than their Windows and Mac counterparts and will therefore be affordable to more Indian users.
Google Pixel will be made in India
To give a boost to India’s Make-in-India initiative, Google is partnering with Apple and Samsung to manufacture its Pixel phones in India. The company announced that Pixel phones will soon be manufactured in India and available in 2024. In 2024, Google Pixel 8 devices will be manufactured in India.
Google Security
Google announced the Digikavach initiative to develop and implement safeguards to protect users from scams, malware and online fraud. As part of this, Google will work with industry partners and committed experts to share information and combat online financial fraud.
Make YouTube safer
Google is launching a series of educational videos called ‘Hit and pause’ that aim to ensure greater safety in India. Google claims to have removed more than 2 million videos that violated YouTube’s policy and more than 80% of those videos were viewed 10 times or fewer.
Google Watch page for news
The page will provide credible news sources on YouTube, latest updates, explainers and comments, live news, podcasts or short films in 11 languages. This platform will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2023.
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