Google recently announced a series of new AI-powered partnerships in India, focusing on healthcare, sustainability, and agriculture. The tech giant is collaborating with local and international organizations to implement AI-driven solutions in areas such as diabetic retinopathy screening, urban waste management, and agricultural development. These initiatives were revealed during a roundtable event in Bengaluru to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Google’s Research Lab in the city following the 10th edition of the Google for India event.
According to Dr. Manish Gupta, Research Director of Google DeepMind, the company’s research in India is focused on language understanding, healthcare, agriculture, and sustainability to address the country’s unique challenges. The goal is to create AI-led solutions that will improve the lives of billions of people. Google is partnering with Forus Health and AuroLab in India, as well as Perceptra in Thailand, to provide 6 million AI-assisted screenings for diabetic retinopathy over the next decade. These screenings aim to prevent blindness in diabetic patients, particularly in resource-limited communities.
Sunny Virmani, Group Product Manager, Health AI Research at Google, highlighted the commitment to translating AI’s potential into meaningful change globally. The partnerships with Forus Health, AuroLab, and Perceptra are helping expand this commitment, with the goal of eradicating preventable blindness due to diabetic retinopathy. Google’s CircularNet, an AI-driven computer vision model for waste management, is being deployed in partnership with Saahas Zero Waste in Bengaluru. The model helps identify and sort plastic waste, facilitating recycling and reducing strain on landfills. The model has shown 85% accuracy in detecting plastic waste during a pilot program, potentially increasing revenue for material recovery facilities.
To support data-driven decision-making in agriculture, Google is opening its Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Research API to developers. The API utilizes satellite imagery and machine learning to provide farm-level insights such as field boundaries, water bodies, and vegetation. This technology aims to optimize resource allocation and guide sustainable farming practices in India. These initiatives demonstrate Google’s commitment to leveraging AI to address critical challenges in healthcare, sustainability, and agriculture in India and beyond.
In conclusion, Google’s recent partnerships and initiatives in India highlight the potential of AI to make a positive impact on society. By collaborating with local and international organizations, Google is working to address key challenges in healthcare, sustainability, and agriculture through AI-driven solutions. Through initiatives such as AI-assisted diabetic retinopathy screenings, waste management solutions, and agricultural insights, Google is demonstrating its commitment to using technology for the benefit of individuals and communities. The expansion of these partnerships and technologies is expected to have a significant positive effect on the lives of billions of people globally.
