India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently used an AI tool called ‘Bhashini’ for the first time in a virtual summit with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries. Bhashini, which means BHASa INterface for India, is India’s first AI-based language translation platform that aims to bridge the gap between Indian languages and other languages on the internet.
Bhashini was launched by PM Modi in July 2022 as part of the National Language Translation Mission (NLTM), which was announced in the Union Budget 2021-2022. The mission’s goal is to build a high-quality speech-to-speech machine translation system for major native languages, increase content in Indian languages on the internet in various domains, and create and nurture ecosystem players such as start-ups and government institutions to develop and deploy products and services in Indian languages.
Bhashini is an acronym for BHASa INterface for India, also known as Digital India Bhashini. It is an AI-enabled translation tool that can translate speech from one language to another in real time. It can also generate subtitles, captions, and voice-overs for videos and podcasts in different languages. Bhashini can be accessed through various platforms such as websites, apps, social media, e-commerce sites, etc.
PM Modi highlighted India’s innovative steps at the G20 meeting on August 21, 2023. He said that India would be happy to share its AI-based language platform with everyone and that it can become an example of digital technology for inclusive growth. He also said that Bhashini can help people speak in their own language while talking to speakers of other Indian languages.
Bhashini is expected to have a positive impact on the digital inclusion of millions of Indians who do not have access to the internet or prefer to use their native languages. It can also boost the cultural diversity and richness of India by promoting its linguistic heritage and identity. Bhashini is a testament to India’s leadership and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence and its potential to transform various sectors and domains.
