Reliance-Backed 'Hanooman' AI Model to Propel India's AI Ambitions
A consortium led by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd. and top Indian engineering schools is gearing up to launch its ChatGPT-style service next month, marking a significant stride in India's pursuit of a prominent role in the field of artificial intelligence. The BharatGPT group, comprised of Reliance Industries and eight affiliated universities, unveiled a preview of the large language model, named 'Hanooman,' during a technology conference in Mumbai. The model, developed in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology universities, is designed to operate in 11 local languages across healthcare, governance, financial services, and education.
If successful, Hanooman could signify a breakthrough for India in the competitive race to develop transformative AI technology. The model's demonstration showcased diverse applications, from a mechanic in Tamil to a banker conversing in Hindi and a developer writing code in Hyderabad. The unique collaboration involves prominent players like wireless carrier Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and the Indian government.
Hanooman sets itself apart by offering speech-to-text capabilities, enhancing user-friendliness for the millions in India who cannot read or write. Reliance Jio plans to create customized AI models for specific use cases, with ongoing efforts on Jio Brain, an AI platform for its extensive network of approximately 450 million subscribers.
While Silicon Valley companies like OpenAI focus on larger Language Model Models (LLMs), BharatGPT's approach addresses India's needs with tailored solutions. Startups like Sarvam and Krutrim, with backing from venture capital investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners and Vinod Khosla's fund, are also contributing to open-sourced AI models customized for the Indian market.
Ganesh Ramakrishnan, chair of IIT Bombay’s Department of Computer Science and engineering, highlighted the unique nature of Hanooman and BharatGPT's effort, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of the first-of-its-kind private-public partnership in the country. Drawing an analogy to the Indian joint family structure, he noted the interdependence and collective success achieved through collaboration.
