From Fortune:

India has at least 120 languages and 1,300 “mother tongues,” but the government operates primarily in Hindi and English, excluding many Indians. Microsoft’s AI for Good initiative uses India to pioneer novel technology to aid rural farmers and predict natural disasters, managing the country’s linguistic challenges in the process.
With only 10 of India’s 22 official languages available, the Microsoft-debuted Jugalbandi chatbot applies a large language model to support users in the country’s underserved rural areas.
VeLLM, another Microsoft initiative, aims to improve large language models to work with lesser-used languages, benefiting from AI’s potential for social good.
Microsoft is committed to using “participatory” design and asking communities for feedback when creating technology for India, in hopes of better serving the local population.
India’s advancements in AI provide lessons for Microsoft and a way to prepare for AI’s impact on the world. This effort is not only philanthropic but also has commercial potential for Microsoft in Asia.



Read more: Microsoft AI tools to bridge India’s 100+ language gaps