Tech Mahindra, a leading global IT and digital transformation company, has unveiled “Project Indus”, an innovative generative AI platform designed specifically for non-English languages, starting with Hindi and its dialects. This initiative aims to bridge the digital language divide in India by enabling businesses, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, to leverage AI-powered solutions for customer support, automation, and local language interactions.
Key Features of Project Indus
- Focus on Hindi and Regional Dialects
Unlike most AI models that prioritize English, Project Indus is built to understand and generate responses in Hindi and its dialects (such as Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Haryanvi, and Braj).
The platform uses advanced NLP (Natural Language Processing) to ensure accuracy in local linguistic nuances.
- AI-Powered Customer Support for Rural India
The tool will help businesses in banking, agriculture, healthcare, and e-commerce provide automated yet personalized support in regional languages.
Example use cases:
Farmers can get AI-driven advice on crop management in their native dialect.
Small businesses can automate customer queries in Hindi via chatbots.
- Open-Source Foundation with Customization
Built on open-source LLMs (Large Language Models), Project Indus allows enterprises to fine-tune the AI for industry-specific needs.
Companies can integrate it with their existing CRM, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), and chatbots for seamless operations.
- Voice and Text Capabilities
Supports both text and voice interactions, making it accessible to users with low literacy levels.
Can be deployed in call centers, WhatsApp chatbots, and voice assistants.
Why Project Indus Matters for India?
- Bridging the Language Digital Divide
Over 90% of India’s internet users prefer regional languages, yet most AI tools are English-dominated.
Project Indus empowers non-English speakers to engage with technology effortlessly.
- Boosting Rural and Semi-Urban Businesses
Small enterprises in Tier 2/3 cities often struggle with language barriers in digital services.
This platform enables hyper-localized AI solutions for banking, agritech, and healthcare.
- Supporting Government’s Digital India Vision
Aligns with initiatives like Bhashini (India’s AI-powered language translation mission).
Can be used in Aadhaar services, DigiLocker, and UPI helplines for Hindi-speaking users.
Tech Mahindra’s AI Roadmap
Phase 1: Launch Hindi dialect support (2024).
Phase 2: Expand to other Indian languages (Marathi, Tamil, Bengali) by 2025.
Phase 3: Integrate with global enterprise solutions for multilingual AI deployments.
The company is collaborating with academic institutions and AI researchers to enhance the model’s accuracy.
Competitive Edge Over Other AI Models
Unlike ChatGPT or Gemini, which struggle with Indian dialects, Project Indus is fine-tuned for local contexts.
More cost-effective for Indian SMEs compared to premium AI tools.
Designed for low-bandwidth environments, making it suitable for rural users.
Challenges & Future Plans
Data Scarcity: Collecting high-quality datasets for dialects remains a hurdle.
Bias Mitigation: Ensuring the AI avoids regional biases in responses.
Adoption: Encouraging businesses to shift from manual to AI-driven support.
Tech Mahindra plans partnerships with state governments and startups to drive adoption.