Google’s ninth annual Google for India event, held in New Delhi, was a showcase of the latest developments and updates tailored for the Indian market. The event featured significant highlights, including a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI), enhanced shopping experiences, updates to Search Generative Experience (SGE), strategic government partnerships, and more. Let’s dive into the key announcements that took center stage at the event.
1. Evolving Search Generative Experience (SGE)
Google’s experimental SGE, previously designed to curate information from online articles and provide informative summaries, now embraces images and videos. This expansion allows SGE to generate images based on textual prompts, offering a richer content experience. Furthermore, SGE introduces user reviews, facilitating product and service decisions. This feature extends to encompass user feedback on over 100 government schemes, making it a valuable resource for individuals seeking information and community insights on public initiatives.
2. Google Bard’s Multilingual Enhancement
Building on the previous announcement made in July, Google Bard now supports nine Indian languages. This expansion reinforces Bard’s inclusivity, enabling users to communicate with the AI in their preferred language. The supported languages include Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, and Urdu. Google Bard’s versatility enhances user engagement and accessibility across diverse linguistic backgrounds.
3. Enhanced Shopping Experience and Merchant Engagement
Google aims to enhance the shopping experience by highlighting physical stores in search results. Users can now access critical information about nearby stores, such as shipping timelines, inventory status, and product pricing. Additionally, a Business Messages feature will soon be integrated into search, enabling direct and private communication between users and merchants. Merchants can now create and display online product catalogs, streamlining the browsing and purchasing process for customers.
4. Google’s ONDC Collaboration
Google has forged a partnership with the government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform. This collaboration has significant implications for Indian farmers, as it allows them to sell their produce online through ONDC. By addressing this concern, the partnership promises to benefit the agricultural sector in the country. The feature is anticipated to roll out later this year, offering a more accessible channel for farmers to connect with consumers.
5. Google Pay Updates and ‘Digikavach’ Initiative
Google Pay introduces robust security features to safeguard users from fraudulent transactions. The app will alert users and block transactions upon detecting suspicious activity, promoting a safer digital payment environment. Furthermore, these features are available in nine Indian languages, extending accessibility. The ‘Digikavach’ initiative by Google Pay also collaborates with banks and finance firms to offer small loans, as low as Rs 15,000, with flexible repayment options, starting from just Rs 111.
6. YouTube News Page
Google is enhancing news tracking on YouTube by allowing users to access a comprehensive selection of content related to a specific topic. This update simplifies the process of staying informed by gathering news stories, explainer videos, shorts, and related stories within one video. The feature reinforces YouTube’s commitment to providing viewers with timely and informative news content while enabling news organizations to engage with their audiences through a range of formats.
7. ‘Made in India’ Google Pixel 8
Google is partnering with both domestic and international manufacturers to produce Pixel smartphones locally, fostering ‘Make in India’ initiatives. Notably, the Google Pixel 8 will be manufactured in India and is set to be available from 2024. This strategic move aligns with India’s growing role in the tech manufacturing landscape.
Conclusion
The Google for India 2023 event unveiled a spectrum of enhancements and collaborations tailored to meet the evolving needs of Indian users. With AI innovations, multilingual accessibility, improved shopping experiences, and strengthened partnerships, Google’s commitment to the Indian market remains resolute. These updates reflect the tech giant’s dedication to serving India’s diverse and dynamic online community.
