The fifth edition of Google for India event took place in Delhi on Thursday and the giant search engine company unveiled its various new initiatives in order to provide a better experience to its over 460 million Indian users. Minister of Communication, Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad was also present at the grand event of Google. The company which has brought a new era of digitalization in India and is improving every day, benefiting society, is aiming to work on the grassroots level to tackle various problems of India.
"Google has become a folklore platform integral to the digital narrative of the world. That's how I see Google"@rsprasad gracing the stage at #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/2BG5ly3VEF
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
Here’s a list of important developments that Google is aiming for this year:
1. Access In Rural India
With the ‘Internet Saathi’ program and in collaboration with Tata Trusts, which focuses on sustainable developments, Google is aiming to reach 300,000 villages by the end of this year. A multi-beneficial program started by Google has helped the farmers to maximize their results using technology. It also helped Rama Devi, an Internet Saathi, to train and help over 1,000 women to use the internet.
In partnership with @tatatrusts, the #InternetSaathi program will reach 300,000 villages by the end of 2019.@caesars is on stage at #GoogleForIndia. Tune in to the livestream ▶️ https://t.co/2xqmGyuQBL pic.twitter.com/gEn8Mu3MSJ
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
Rama Devi is an #InternetSaathi whose efforts have yielded some great results. Not only has she taught over a thousand women to use the Internet, but trained farmers as well. #GoogleForIndia
▶️ https://t.co/2xqmGyuQBL pic.twitter.com/5DhiBQVKJ8
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
Moreover, four years back ‘Google Station’ was launched which brought fast and secured wifi access to 400 stations in partnership with Railtel and Indian Railways. Now, Google is aiming to expand it. With BSNL, the company is planning to connect the villages of Gujarat, Bihar, and Maharashtra, where the wifi services have never reached.
Making the Internet accessible for every Indian, no matter where they are. #GoogleStation #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/DSkVGcV0xx
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
Above all this, the giant company is also going to connect 2G users of Vodafone-Idea Network to get Google Assistant service offline, through a phone call and get updates of diverse fields.
No internet, no Assistant? Not anymore. @mbronstein announces Phone Line, a feature available for all phones, where you can dial a number and talk to the Google Assistant 📞 #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/NDBlC5aXCW
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
2. Language Assistant
Google Assistant is no more restricted to the English language for receiving a command. With Hindi as the second most used Assistant language globally, Google is also going to take instructions in nine other languages prevailing in India.
.@mbronstein talks about how a big part of building an Assistant that’s truly yours is speaking your language. Watch him live at #GoogleForIndia ▶️ https://t.co/2xqmGyuQBL pic.twitter.com/VAaXekvoao
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
Or, if you speak any of these 9 Indian languages, try saying…@mbronstein #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/RmdQtY00KA
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
With all this, Google Assistant is coming up with more updates like a hands-free experience while ordering food from outlets like Dominos and letting you book your cabs through various cab service providers. The Interpreter mode is also going to be launched which will translate the conversation of two users speaking different languages.
Ok Google, be my English interpreter.@mbronstein talks about the interpreter mode and other new app actions on the Google Assistant.#GoogleForIndia
▶️ https://t.co/2xqmGyuQBL pic.twitter.com/sHo8gefKB4
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
3. Bolo App
The ‘Bolo App’ of Google helped over 800,000 people from 28,000 villages and towns to read stories online. A speech-based app helps the children learn how to read. Now the app is available in five more languages which include Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
800,000 children from over 28,000 villages and towns have read stories more than 3Mn times, on Bolo.
And today, the app is available in 5 new Indian languages.#GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/DqizulPYoD
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
4. Google Pay
The developments related to ‘Google Pay’, which has made payments simpler, secure and universally accessible to Indians, was one of the key highlights of the event.
In the last 12 months, monthly active users on @GooglePayIndia have grown by more than 3 times. #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/QcQ9Xk6Y3e
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
The ‘Spot’ Platform of ‘Google Pay’ will give merchants access to reach the customers easily by advertising on ‘Google Pay’ app. Popular services like Goibibo, Eat Fit, Urbanclap and more are already there.
The ‘Job Spot’ of ‘Google Pay’ will give the users an opportunity to be aware of the entry-level job opportunities in retail, hospitals and other fast-growing industries.
All you have to do is create a job profile and the app will show a list of new openings based on your preferences.
Introducing the new Jobs Spot on Google Pay, which helps people find entry-level jobs in fast-growing industries like retail, hospitality and on-demand businesses. #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/Ir1LbOkxMy
— Google Pay India (@GooglePayIndia) September 19, 2019
Tokenised money and Google Pay for the Business app are making their way soon in the Indian market. The tokenized cards will be rolled out with Visa cards for HDFC, Axis, Kotak and Standard Chartered. It will soon be reaching out to Mastercard and Rupay card for many other banks.
To make payments simpler, more secure and universally accessible for every Indian, the Google Pay app is introducing some exciting new features.#GoogleForIndia
▶️ https://t.co/2xqmGyuQBL pic.twitter.com/vcm9dNxZ6J
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 19, 2019
5. AI Lab
Last but not least, Google is launching its Artificial Intelligence Lab to tackle various problems through the technological approach. The AI Lab under the name ‘Google Research India’ will be focusing on building a strong research team and partnering with other research communities of India to solve problems of agricultural field, healthcare and education while building apps to meet all the necessities.
The AI Lab in Bangalore will be led by Manish Gupta, a renowned Computer Scientist, and participate worldwide with Google global network of researchers.
At #GoogleForIndia today, we announced Google Research India – a new AI research team in Bangalore that will focus on advancing computer science & applying AI research to solve big problems in healthcare, agriculture, education, and more. #GoogleAI https://t.co/hNlwhhxhVx
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) September 19, 2019
