Global search giant Google has launched a new initiative called Navlekha, during the fourth “Google for India” event. It will enable offline Indian language content publishers to bring content online.
With another 500 million Indian language users expected to come online in the next two years, the online regional language content accounts for barely 1% of what is available in English.
Google is looking to bridge this content gap through its new initiative Navlekha. It leverages AI to render any PDF containing Indian language content into editable text, making it easy for print publishers to create mobile-friendly web content.
It will provide free web hosting with AdSense support for publishers to start monetizing their content. Publishers will also receive training and support for the first three years.
It will also go on to improve Google’s Search product in India, making it more localised and accurate. “For Search to be truly helpful, it should bring you useful content, in all the languages you understand,” Shashidhar Thakur, VP, Engineering, Google Search, said at the event.
Google will be adding local language support to other apps and services, including, search feed, by showing English and Hindi news based on the user’s preferences.
On the Google Assistant, it will be adding Marathi (with seven more Indian languages coming soon) and even more Indian apps—like Where Is My Train, Airtel, and Hello English—making them available through the convenience of voice control.