Reliance-Backed Hanooman: The Indian ChatGPT and A Multimodal AI Powerhouse for Indic Languages

In a significant leap for India’s AI landscape, Reliance has unveiled Hanooman, a series of AI models dubbed the “Indian ChatGPT” specifically designed for Indic languages. This development marks a crucial step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering millions of Indians who primarily interact with technology in their native tongues.

BharatGPT group unveils ‘Hanooman’: Everything you need to know about the Indic AI model

Announced on Tuesday, the BharatGPT consortium, spearheaded by IIT Bombay in conjunction with seven other prestigious Indian engineering institutes, revealed plans to introduce its inaugural ChatGPT-like service next month. Supported by Reliance Industries Ltd and the Department of Science and Technology, the consortium developed the ‘Hanooman’ series of Indic language models in partnership with Seetha Mahalaxmi Healthcare (SML).

What is Hanooman?

Hanooman, the Indian ChatGPT, is a multimodal AI powerhouse capable of generating text, speech, and videos in various Indian languages. Developed by the BharatGPT group, a collaboration between Reliance Industries, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, and seven other IITs, Hanooman aims to revolutionize how people interact with technology in their native tongues.

How does Hanooman work?

Hanooman uses the power of large language models (LLMs) trained on massive datasets of text and code in various Indic languages. This allows the model to understand and respond to natural language queries, generate different creative text formats, and translate languages effectively. Additionally, Hanooman boasts speech-to-text capabilities, making it accessible to users who may not be comfortable with traditional text-based interfaces.

How to use Hanooman?

There is only limited information available regarding the official launch and user interface of Hanooman. Based on the information available, it can be anticipated that Hanooman will likely be accessible through:

• APIs: Developers and researchers might be able to integrate Hanooman’s functionalities into their applications through APIs.
• Web interfaces: There’s a possibility that Hanooman might offer web-based interfaces for specific tasks like text generation or translation, similar to other AI models.

What is the BharatGPT?

BharatGPT, the foundation for Hanooman, is a collaborative effort led by Reliance Industries and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, alongside other IITs. This initiative aims to develop powerful AI models specifically designed for Indic languages. By focusing on languages like Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, BharatGPT empowers millions of Indians to interact with technology in their native tongues, fostering inclusivity and bridging the digital divide.

Multimodal AI Hanooman’s Pricing

As of today, information regarding pricing and subscription models for Hanooman is not publicly available. The initial models in the Hanooman series are expected to be released in March 2024, with accessibility likely geared towards developers and researchers in the first phase. This suggests that public access with potential subscription models might come later.

Applications of Indian ChatGPT “Hanooman”

Hanooman has the potential to transform various sectors in India, including:

1. Healthcare: By enabling communication between doctors and patients in local languages, Hanooman can improve access to healthcare services for millions in rural and remote areas.
2. Governance: Hanooman can facilitate communication between government agencies and citizens in their preferred languages, leading to greater transparency and citizen engagement.
3. Education: Educational materials and tools can be developed in local languages using Hanooman, making education more accessible and inclusive for diverse communities.
4. Financial Services: Financial institutions can leverage Hanooman to provide financial literacy and access to financial products and services in local languages, promoting financial inclusion.

Key features of Hanooman

1. Multilingual support: Hanooman understands and responds in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, and more.
2. Multimodal capabilities: Hanooman can generate text, translate languages, and convert speech to text, offering a versatile user experience.
3. Open-source availability: The first four models in the Hanooman series will be available to developers and researchers, fostering innovation and development in the Indian AI ecosystem.

Hanooman Compared to Existing Language Models

Hanooman has sparked curiosity among existing language models. We can see how it stacks up against prominent players like ChatGPT, Krutrim, OpenHathi, Airavata, and Copilot.

Features	Hanooman	ChatGPT	Krutrim	OpenHathi	Airavata	Copilot
Focus	Indic Languages (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu)	English	English and Hindi	Tamil	General-purpose	Code
Capabilities	Text generation, translation, speech-to-text	Text generation, translation, code completion	Text generation, translation	Text generation, translation	Question answering, summarization, sentiment analysis	Code completion, translation
Accessibility	Initial models open-source, broader access details TBA	Commercial	Commercial	Research-oriented	Research-oriented	Commercial
Stage	Announced, launch expected in March 2024	Established	Established	Under development	Established	Established

In how many Indian languages can the models currently respond?

While the specific number of languages isn’t explicitly mentioned, it is known that Hanooman focuses on “major Indian languages”. Based on sources, Hanooman is expected to support several major Indic languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Bengali. The exact number and potential addition of other languages might be revealed closer to the official launch.

What are Indic Languages?

Indic languages, encompassing Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and many others, form the dominant language family of the Indian subcontinent spoken by over 800 million people. Hanooman, the AI model by Reliance, aims to bridge the digital divide by specifically catering to these languages, and empowering communication and information access for diverse communities across India.

Challenges for Building Indian LLMs

The importance of data availability for training these models is crucial. Developing effective LLMs requires vast amounts of text and code data in each target language. This can be a hurdle for less-resourced languages, potentially impacting the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the models.

Additionally, ensuring fairness and addressing potential biases in the training data is crucial for the responsible development of Indian LLMs. This necessitates careful data curation and monitoring to prevent the models from perpetuating biases or stereotypes present in the training data.

Conclusion

Hanooman represents a significant step forward in India’s journey toward becoming a global leader in AI innovation. By empowering communication and access to information in local languages, Hanooman has the potential to bridge the digital divide, open new economic opportunities, and help millions across the country.

FAQs

When will Hanooman be available?

The first models are expected to be launched in March 2024.

Who will have access to Hanooman?

The initial models will be available to developers and researchers, with broader accessibility planned for the future.

How can I Know more about Hanooman?

You can visit the BharatGPT website or follow news updates from Reliance and the participating IITs.