The Generative AI Gold Rush

The 21st century will be etched in history as one that propelled humanity into next-generation technology. Come to think of it, it wasn’t too long ago when the first research papers on artificial intelligence (AI) were published in 1961. The world’s first chatbot, Eliza, came into existence in 1964. The 2010s saw the era of voice assistants and the arrival of Apple’s Siri.

It wasn’t until the 2020s, however, that generative AI spread its wings. Stability AI introduced Stable Diffusion, a text-to-image AI model that led to the development of other popular diffusion-based image generators like DALL-E and Midjourney. Models like Runway paved the way for AI-generated videos. The proverbial milestone in the world of AI, however, was reached with the launch of GPT 3.5, a text-based AI model that reached a million downloads in merely five days.

Generative AI, the next natural step in the AI evolution ladder, is an industry that is projected to reach a net worth of USD 1.3 trillion by 2032.

The AI race has reached Indian shores as well with startups trying to go for gold. Bhavish Agarwal’s Krutrim, a Generative AI venture that focuses on Indian languages, is already a unicorn after raising USD 50 million in its first funding round. Reliance Jio Infocomm’s Baharat GPT which is part of the company’s broader vision, Jio 2.0, is also a multilingual Gen AI platform that is expected to be unveiled in the near future.

Qx Lab AI

Dubai recently witnessed the launch of Ask QX, an AI platform by QX Lab AI, which is an AI laboratory founded by Tilakraj Parmar, Arjun Prasad and Tathagat Prakash. Ask QX will directly lock horns with Generative AI models like Chat GPT and Google Gemini.

The app is a text-based Generative AI platform that the company claims has the world’s first nodal-based architecture. The app is available in over a hundred languages, of which 12 are Indian. According to the founders, Qx Lab AI will be tapping into the Gen AI markets of BRICS nations.

“Ask QX is the world’s first Gen AI platform to access and leverage an astounding neural network architecture along with advanced security measures and stringent compliance protocols,” says Tathagat Prakash, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, QX Lab AI. The hybrid, node-based architecture seems to be one of the USPs of the newly launched Ask QX platform, aiming to solve infrastructure, security and affordability concerns. “The unique node-based infrastructure and data residence within India, not only enhances security but also operates more cost-effectively, showcasing our commitment to offering subscription models tailored to different user segments,” adds Prakash. 

The paid B2C app offers what the company calls a neural network-based version. It is competitively priced and costs significantly less than other platforms available, while the free version provides access to the Ask QX Generative AI neural engine. “Our dedication to precision and reliability underscores our promise to deliver an AI ecosystem that can be trusted by users,” says Prakash.

The Edge in the Clutter Being multilingual gives Ask QX an edge in the Gen AI gold rush. “This innovative platform is strategically designed to democratise access to AI for the Indian populace, seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence into their daily lives to enhance overall value,” says an enthusiastic Tilakraj Parmar, Co-founder and CEO, QX Lab AI. “Conceived after eight years of dedicated effort and meticulous development, Ask QX boasts of unparalleled language proficiency and accuracy across multiple Indian languages. Our vision for Ask QX is to bridge the existing gap, ensuring that the transformative potential of AI is accessible to all, not limited to a privileged few. The launch of Ask QX marks the initiation of a significant movement toward inclusive and accessible AI advancement in India,” adds Parmar.

At the launch event in Dubai, Arjun Prasad, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, QX Lab AI elucidated his vision for the company. “We envisioned QX Lab AI and Ask QX with the goal to provide equitable AI access to the masses. We wanted to develop a product that would cater to users in every corner of India, in a language of their choice. Moreover, we did not want to simply announce a product, but have a fully functional platform ready at launch. Our strategic approach focuses on not just promising, but delivering tangible results,” he said.

“We have strategically forged partnerships across both the public and private sectors in India, which we will be announcing soon, and are excited about bridging the AI gap between India and Bharat,” Prasad announced then. He says now that Ask QX’s debut in over a hundred languages and reach across eight million users (from the website version), is a testament to the company’s resolve to create an impact and empower individuals, businesses and communities.

Generative AI is doing today what the World Wide Web did back in 1989, what Web 2.0 did in the early 2000s and what Web 3.0 did in the mid-2010s. The recent developments in the Generative AI have opened the gateways to possibilities that were earlier only seen in Hollywood flicks. The recent launch of Open AI’s Sora, the AI lab’s new text-to-video model for instance, opened our eyes to the inevitability of the changes that this technology will bring about in the world. It will be fascinating to track QX Lab AI’s journey as it finds a foothold in the Gen AI landscape.