IBM and BharatGen have joined forces to speed up the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India. Their joint effort will use AI models (Large Language Models, or LLMs) that understand Indian languages and culture, so the tech is more useful, fair, and rooted in local needs. IBM is a global tech company known for AI, cloud computing, data governance, and enterprise solutions.
BharatGen, on the other hand, is a government-backed consortium housed at IIT Bombay and supported by the Department of Science & Technology (DST). Its goal is to build AI models in Indian languages, serve the public good, and include under-represented communities.
What Will They Do Together?
Build Custom AI Solutions for India
They will develop templates (ready-to-use AI models and applications) tailored to Indian contexts—using BharatGen’s data and IBM’s model technology.
Use Powerful Platforms & Tools
They will use IBM Watsonx, Red Hat OpenShift AI, Granite Models, and open-source tools. These tools will help with training models, testing them, and deploying them safely.
Focus on Local Languages & Culture
A key goal is to include underserved Indian languages and dialects beyond the most commonly used. This helps more people benefit from AI.
Responsible & Scalable Development
They aim to set up data pipelines (to collect and process data), ensure governance and ethical development, and create benchmarks (standards) that work well for Indian languages.
Target Key Sectors
Applications will span education, agriculture, banking, healthcare, and citizen services. That means AI could help in classrooms, farms, hospitals, etc.
Why It Matters
- Inclusive AI: Several present AI systems are less tuned for Indian languages or cultural contexts. This initiative aims to change that.
- Sovereignty & Safety: By building AI models within India, the project supports self-reliance and ensures that data, language, and culture are preserved.
- Wider Reach: When AI understands regional languages, more people can use it effectively—especially in places where English isn’t preferred.