Google has unveiled its AI assistant, Gemini, in India, expanding its reach to millions of users across the country. Available in English and nine Indian languages—Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu—this launch represents a big step in making advanced AI tools accessible to a diverse population.
The Gemini app and its advanced version, Gemini Advanced, offer a suite of new features designed to enhance user experience and productivity.
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, announced the launch on the microblogging site X, highlighting the app's multilingual capabilities and new features in Gemini Advanced. Users can now interact with Gemini by typing, speaking, or adding images, making it easier to get assistance with various tasks. For instance, a user can take a picture of a flat tire to receive step-by-step instructions on how to change it. While Android users can download the Gemini app or access it through Google Assistant, iOS users will see the feature rolling out via the Google app over the next few weeks.
Gemini Advanced introduces powerful new tools, including enhanced data analysis capabilities and the ability to upload files. This feature allows users to handle lengthy documents, up to 1,500 pages, and summarize large batches of emails.
Additionally, Gemini Advanced can process and visualise data from spreadsheets, providing insights and custom visualisations, thus acting as a personal data analyst. This capacity is backed by a one million token context window, the longest available for any consumer chatbot, allowing it to process vast amounts of information efficiently. Importantly, Google ensures that all uploaded files remain private and are not used to train its models.
The integration of Gemini into Google Messages offers users another convenient way to collaborate with the AI assistant on their phones. This feature helps with drafting messages, brainstorming ideas, and planning events directly within the Messages app.
According to Amar Subramanya, Vice President of Engineering for Gemini experiences, the app has seen a warm reception in its first year in India, with users utilising it for everything from schoolwork and coding to creative projects.
