Hanooman: The Indic AI model by BharatGPT

Introduction

• The BharatGPT group, comprising IIT Bombay and the Department of Science and Technology, is set to launch its first ChatGPT-like service named Hanooman next month(March).

• Reliance’s Hanooman is the brainchild of the BharatGPT group, a consortium comprising Reliance Industries and eight affiliated universities. This collaboration underscores a concerted effort to harness AI technology for the benefit of India’s diverse linguistic landscape.

Large Language Models (LLMs)

• LLMs utilize deep learning methodologies to process extensive text data, enabling them to grasp linguistic nuances and semantic relationships.

• These models are trained on vast datasets like Wikipedia and OpenWebText, allowing them to comprehend and generate natural language by discerning patterns and meanings from the provided text.

About Hanooman

• Multilingual Capability: Hanooman is a series of large language models (LLMs) proficient in 11 Indian languages initially, with plans to expand to over 20 languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Marathi.

• Functionality: Beyond a mere chatbot, Hanooman serves as a multimodal AI tool, capable of generating text, speech, videos, and more across various domains such as healthcare, governance, financial services, and education.

• Customized Versions: One notable variant, VizzhyGPT, tailored for healthcare applications, showcases Hanooman’s versatility in fine-tuning AI models to specific sectors.

• Scale: The size of these AI models ranges from 1.5 billion to an impressive 40 billion parameters, reflecting their robustness and complexity.

Challenges and Considerations

• Quality of Datasets: Concerns regarding the quality of datasets in Indian languages, emphasizing the prevalence of synthetic datasets derived from translations, may lead to inaccuracies or distortions.

• Competition: Alongside BharatGPT, several startups like Sarvam and Krutrim, supported by prominent VC investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners are developing AI models tailored for India, indicating a burgeoning ecosystem in this domain.

Unveiling BharatGPT

Akash Ambani revealed that the joint project, BharatGPT, is a strategic initiative aimed at leveraging large language models & generative AI. The program, integral to Jio’s broader vision of “Jio 2.0,” signifies a comprehensive ecosystem of development. Reliance’s collaboration with IIT Bombay, dating back to 2014, highlights the long-standing efforts to explore the vast potential of AI in driving innovation across products and services.

AI’s Inclusive Impact

Ambani emphasized the omnipresence of AI, stating that it will “consume everything.” He foresees AI as a transformative force, not just as a vertical within Jio but horizontally across all sectors. The next decade, according to Ambani, will be defined by applications utilizing large language models and generative AI. This reflects Jio’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements.