Microsoft Unveils 'Jugalbandi': Next-Generation AI Empowers Indian Villagers

Microsoft's newly unveiled generative AI-driven chatbot, Jugalbandi, is set to revolutionize government assistance for rural Indians by providing information in local languages. With the ability to comprehend questions in multiple languages, whether spoken or typed, the chatbot retrieves relevant program details written primarily in English and translates them into the user's preferred local language.

Microsoft, in partnership with AI4Bharat and OpenNyAI, introduces 'Jugalbandi': an innovative AI-powered chatbot designed for rural Indian users, including farmers. Developed in collaboration with Microsoft Research, this generative chatbot aims to cater specifically to the needs of the rural community in India.

In a country where English serves as the language of government, business, and public life, only 11% of India's 1.4 billion population speaks it. Hindi, spoken by 57% of Indians, is another widely used language. Consequently, a significant portion of the population faces language barriers that hinder their access to vital government programs.

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The introduction of Jugalbandi aims to bridge this language gap, offering easy and convenient access to information via mobile devices rather than requiring individuals to visit local community service centers and endure long queues for basic inquiries. The chatbot represents a new level of sophistication, referred to as a "chatbot plus," functioning as a personalized agent to assist users.

Jugalbandi leverages language models from AI4Bharat, a government-backed language AI center at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and reasoning models from Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. Accessible through the popular mobile messaging platform WhatsApp, widely used in India, the interaction between users and the chatbot is referred to as a "duet."

This innovative chatbot operates within the realm of generative AI tools, which can synthesize vast amounts of data to generate text, images, and more. To fine-tune its capabilities, Jugalbandi utilizes Indian government databases, gradually incorporating their data. The usage of Azure OpenAI Service ensures data security, including responsible AI protections that filter out inappropriate content.

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Since its launch in the village of Biwan in early April, Jugalbandi has expanded its language support to cover 10 of India's 22 official languages and provides information on approximately 171 out of 20,000 government programs. OpenNyAI, an organization dedicated to enhancing access to law and justice through AI, is one of the groups involved in the development of the chatbot.

India's complexity serves as an ideal testing ground for multilingual settings worldwide. With the multitude of government schemes and welfare programs, each with its own criteria and requirements, official websites can be challenging to navigate, especially for those who are illiterate or unfamiliar with the English language. Jugalbandi's accurate and prompt responses aim to reduce the need for frequent visits to government service centers and eliminate the hassle of retrieving missing documents.

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