Bengaluru, Oct 24, 2024: Meta hosted its Build with AI Summit in Bengaluru, underscoring India’s expanding digital ecosystem and its capacity to become a global leader in AI adoption across key sectors. Meta emphasized the importance of open-source AI models in this development, facilitating scalable, cost-effective solutions tailored to India’s unique needs across healthcare, agriculture, governance, and education.
AI Hackathon Showcases Innovation
The summit included an AI Hackathon where developers utilized Meta’s Llama open platform. With over 1,500 registrations, the event attracted more than 90 teams and produced innovative projects like CurePharmaAI, CivicFix, and evAIssment. Notably, SheBuilds, an all-women team, received recognition. Winners were invited to apply for Llama Impact Grants, which offer funding between $100,000 and $500,000 for impactful regional and global AI projects.
Empowering Development through Open-Source Models
Meta’s open-source AI, like Llama 3.1, provides Indian developers with the tools to address local challenges. One standout application is KissanAI’s Dhenu Llama 3, an agriculture-focused model available in 22 languages, designed to support farmers via WhatsApp, with voice and text capabilities. Meta’s collaborations with organizations like AI4Bharat further enhance language accessibility, enabling rural students and farmers to use resources in their native languages.
Collaborations for Public Sector Transformation
Meta’s partnerships extend to government services, including a collaboration with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to use Llama models for efficient e-governance. Efforts with IndiaAI and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology aim to advance AI research, while projects with NLSIU and IIT Bombay seek to develop chatbots and tools for the Department of Consumer Affairs, improving accessibility and public engagement.
Advancing Education and Skills Development
Meta’s initiatives target India’s large youth population by enhancing education and skill-building. The Skill AI Chatbot, developed with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, offers multilingual educational resources and job listings. The Arivihan platform uses Llama models to provide customized lecture scripts and answer queries, democratizing educational resources for over 100,000 students.
Enterprise AI Solutions
Meta’s AI tools support Indian enterprises in optimizing operations and global competitiveness. Partnerships with companies like Infosys showcase industry-specific AI use cases, with Infosys establishing a Meta Center of Excellence to promote open-source AI contributions and applications across various sectors.
Supporting Language Diversity
Meta highlighted models like No Language Left Behind for translations across 200 languages, supporting India’s linguistic diversity. Collaborations with IIT Madras and AI startups such as Sarvam AI work to enhance AI-driven language models for regional languages, including Odia and the first open-source audio LLM, Shuka.
India’s Position in the Global AI Landscape
Yann LeCun, Meta’s Chief AI Scientist, spoke on Meta’s open-source approach, emphasizing that collaboration drives AI innovation. He noted, “India’s role in AI is transformative. With its technical expertise and contributions to natural language understanding, India is positioned to influence global advancements in AI.”
