Google has launched a strategic partnership with MeitY Startup Hub to train 10,000 startups in artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to empower India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. This initiative is part of Google’s broader commitment to democratize AI technologies and foster innovation across the country.

At the Google I/O Connect Bengaluru 2024 event, the tech giant unveiled comprehensive efforts to accelerate AI development in India, focusing on multimodal, multilingual, and mobile AI solutions. Central to these efforts are the Gemini AI models, now accessible to over 1.5 million developers globally, with a significant user base in India.

Under the partnership with MeitY Startup Hub, Google will provide eligible startups with up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits to bolster their cloud infrastructure capabilities. Additionally, Google will deliver specialized AI training through initiatives like Startup School and Appscale Academy, equipping startups with essential AI skills and knowledge.

Google also introduced tailored AI innovation programs for Indian startups, including a nationwide Gen AI Hackathon and a collaborative three-month immersive experience with MeitY Startup Hub and Startup India. These programs aim to tackle real-world challenges in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and cybersecurity using AI-driven solutions.

Expanding access to advanced AI models, Google has introduced the Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemma 2 models, enhancing performance and safety features for developers in India. The company is also advancing language diversity efforts through Project Vaani and introducing tools like IndicGenBench and the CALM framework to support the creation of nuanced language models.

On the mobile front, Google launched the Matformer framework to optimize AI models for mobile devices, enhancing on-device AI capabilities for faster and more accurate user experiences. In agriculture, Google introduced the Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Research API to provide data-driven insights at the farm field level, leveraging AI and remote sensing technologies.

Google also announced updates to streamline software development processes, including Firebase AI Monitoring, Project IDX integrations, and AI Safety tools, alongside new APIs and India-specific pricing for Google Maps Platform to support local developers.

Overall, Google’s initiatives underscore its commitment to nurturing AI innovation in India and empowering startups to leverage AI technologies effectively across various sectors.