Hanooman: India’s Indigenous AI Bot Poised to Transform Services Across Sectors
Mukesh Ambani-backed Hanooman: India's Indigenous AI Bot Poised to Transform Services Across Sectors, Spearheading Technological Advancement.
Mumbai: India is poised to make significant strides in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) with the imminent launch of Hanooman, a ChatGPT-style bot developed by BharatGPT, a consortium backed by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries. Scheduled for release in March 2024, Hanooman is primed to revolutionize the Indian market by offering tailored information and crucial services across various sectors.
Named after the Hindu deity Hanuman, Hanooman symbolizes India’s ambition to assert itself as a frontrunner in transformative AI technology. Designed to operate in 11 languages, Hanooman aims to deliver seamless services in healthcare, governance, financial services, and education, catering specifically to the needs of the Indian populace.
While the launch month has been confirmed, the exact release date for Hanooman is yet to be announced, building anticipation among stakeholders and the public alike.
This indigenous version of ChatGPT is the result of a collaborative effort between BharatGPT, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) universities, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., and the Indian government. Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, is actively involved in developing custom models for various applications, including speech-to-text capabilities.
In addition to Hanooman, other AI startups such as Sarvam and Krutrim, supported by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Vinod Khosla’s fund, respectively, are also striving to develop indigenous open-source AI models, further bolstering India’s AI ecosystem.
Hanooman’s potential offerings span a wide range of services reminiscent of ChatGPT, with speech-to-text functionality being a prominent feature. Reliance Jio’s commitment to customization is evident, with plans to tailor models to suit diverse user needs.
A glimpse of Hanooman’s capabilities was showcased at a technology conference in Mumbai on February 20, 2024. Attendees witnessed demonstrations of Hanooman’s versatility, with interactions conducted in Tamil, Hindi, and through coding, indicating its adaptability to various contexts.
As India ventures into the global AI race, Hanooman represents a significant milestone in the country’s technological journey. With its ability to bridge linguistic and functional barriers, Hanooman has the potential to redefine how Indians interact with Artificial intelligence (AI), paving the way for a future where technology catalyses progress and innovation.
