Reliance’s Hanooman: Mukesh Ambani’s AI model gears up for March launch in India
At a technology conference in Mumbai, BharatGPT showcased a preview of its large language model
BharatGPT, supported by Reliance Industries Ltd. and several top engineering schools in India, is set to launch its first ChatGPT-style service soon. This initiative is significant for India’s ambitions in artificial intelligence (AI).
At a technology conference in Mumbai, BharatGPT showcased a preview of its large language model, named Hanooman. The demonstration featured interactions in various Indian languages and fields like Tamil for a mechanic, Hindi for a banker, and coding assistance for a developer in Hyderabad.
If successful, Hanooman could mark a milestone for India’s advancement in AI technology. It’s designed to operate in 11 local languages across four main sectors: healthcare, governance, financial services, and education. Collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) universities, backed by Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and the government, facilitated the model’s development.
Additionally, several startups like Sarvam and Krutrim, supported by investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Vinod Khosla’s fund, are creating AI models tailored for India’s needs. While global companies like OpenAI focus on large language models (LLMs), BharatGPT’s approach addresses local requirements with simpler, more accessible models.
Hanooman will offer speech-to-text capabilities, enhancing its usability for millions who cannot read or write in a country with a vast population. Reliance Jio plans to develop customized models for specific applications, leveraging its extensive subscriber network through initiatives like Jio Brain, which aims to integrate AI across its services.
Large language models like Hanooman utilize generative AI, learning from vast datasets to generate human-like responses. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT sets a precedent, BharatGPT’s approach stands out as a collaborative effort involving both private and public entities, a first of its kind in India.
Ganesh Ramakrishnan, from IIT Bombay, compares BharatGPT’s partnership to the traditional Indian joint family, highlighting the synergy and mutual benefit derived from collaboration across different sectors and stakeholders.
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