Google held its 9th annual ‘Google For India’ Event 2023 yesterday at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi wherein the company announced what it plans to do in the country for the next one year. The event started off with Scott Beaumont, president of Google stating the importance of technology in everyday lives. He mentioned that currently, 45% of Indians carry smartphones and the number is only going up with each passing day.
He mentioned how Google Maps and Google Search are two of the most used services in the country creating over 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 Google plans to implement this year.
Generative AI & It’s Possibilities
Google announced that generative AI is the way forward. The company announced a slew of Generative AI launches across Google’s lineup such as Google Search, GPay, and Google Cloud. Google claims to focus on AI in 4 areas- commerce, user safety, expanding formal credit reach, and the best AI capabilities for every user.
Google has announced new capabilities for Search Generative Experience (SGE) in India. Google will add AI-powered overviews to its search results, which will help people access information quickly and in a visually rich format. It will help you explore places and things to do in a more seamless way as it will take user reviews into consideration. Google will help Indians easily navigate and access information about over 100 government schemes focusing on areas like employment, housing, healthcare, farming, etc.
Google has introduced a new AI-powered innovation on Google Lens which will help people search for skin conditions that are similar to what they see on their skin with a picture. For Businesses too, Google has announced 2 new features- Business Messages and Merchant Centre. While Business Messages will allow businesses to speak to consumers at the search stage itself, the Merchant Centre will help small and medium businesses build catalogs on the Search Function using AI. Both these features will roll out early next year.
Google Cloud
This is being done to help farmers benefit from ONDC. Google Cloud is partnering with Sign Catch to help Farmers’ Producers Organizations build catalogs and reach out to merchants across the country. They will be able to use the power of Google Cloud’s generative AI and language capabilities with a few clicks and transact at the scale they want to.
Google Cloud is teaming up with Cert-in to ramp up India’s cybersecurity training and skilling. Google will train 1000 government officials in cyber defense best practices that will include using generative AI and conducting cyber security rounds led by experts. It will offer 100,000 scholarships for Google cybersecurity certification to be taught by experts at Google.
In partnership 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 center of excellence on generative AI and language.
Google Cloud has also announced that it is working with Axis My India to democratize information on citizens’ services with a super app called the “A-App” that will use Google Cloud’s scalable and secure infrastructure to impact over 250 million Indian households. 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 users in India to book metro tickets directly through the mapping app as it is partnering with ONDC to make things easier. The experience will be rolled out in the next few months across metro cities and will be available via buyer apps integrated within the open network.
Google Play Protect
Google has announced new real-time scanning features for Google Play Protect that will enhance the safety of Android users by making it harder for malicious apps using malware to evade detection. Google Play Protect is a built-in protection system in Android that performs on-device scans for unwanted software and malware. The system is backed by data derived from 125 billion daily scans. The tool will alert users when it detects suspicious activity in an app, warning users to not 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 roll out worldwide in the upcoming months.
Google Chat
Google will launch Meera Chat in 11 Indian languages along with 50 million dollars to NGOs.
Google My Amma Program
Google stressed one of its special initiatives as well, the My Amma Program. Under this program, Google claims to have aided 1.75 lakh mothers across India providing them with critical healthcare data.
Google Pay
In India where the majority of people still don’t have adequate access to safe financial services, Google has announced a slew of credit products that will aid small businesses and consumers. Google has partnered with lenders and financing companies to do so. The fintech company will extend sachet or small-ticket loans starting at Rs. 15,000 to merchants in collaboration with DMI Finance. To help merchants meet their capital requirements, it will enable a credit line for them in partnership with ePayLater.
For consumers, the company will expand its portfolio of personal loans by partnering with Axis Bank, which will make its personal loans available on Google Pay.
Google Affordable HP Chromebooks
To bolster digital education in the country, Google has partnered with HP to manufacture affordable HP Chromebooks in India, powered by the Google ChromeOS operating system. The laptops will be budget friendly than Windows and Mac counterparts and thus will be affordable to more Indian users.
Google Pixel to be Made in India
To give a boost to India’s Make-in-India initiative, Google is joining hands with Apple and Samsung to manufacture its Pixel phones in India. The company has announced that Pixel Phones will soon be made in India and will be available in 2024. In 2024, Google Pixel 8 devices will be made in India.
Google Safety
Google has announced the Digikavach initiative to develop and implement safeguards to protect people from scams, malware, and online fraud. Under this Google will work with industry partners and committed experts to share insights and combat online financial fraud.
Making YouTube Safer
Google is launching a series of educational videos titled ‘Hit and pause’ which is intended to keep India safer. Google claims to have removed over 2 million videos that violated YouTube policy and more than 80% of these videos had 10 or fewer views.
Google Watch Page for News
The page will provide credible news sources on YouTube, the latest updates, explanations, and commentary, live news, podcasts, or shorts in 11 languages. This platform will launch in Q4, 2023 itself.
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