Google made five announcements in the 9th Google for India event in New Delhi.
Google announced its plans to start manufacturing Google pixel smartphones in India. Google will partner with international and domestic manufacturers to produce pixel smartphones locally.
The local manufacturing will start with Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Pixel A-series, Google’s mid-range smartphones are also expected to be manufactured. The smartphones are expected to roll out in 2024.
This is a major contribution to India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. It will make Pixel smartphones more affordable and readily available in Indian markets. It will boost employment opportunities and enhance the Indian economy.
Search experience has improved with more visual and local generative AI (artificial intelligence) experience to help small business owners deliver better. Google is expected to soon start surfacing AI- powered overviews for more than 100 crucial government programs.
Google pay will introduce formal credit through Unified Payment Interface (UPI), a facility recently allowed by the central bank. It will tie up with DMI Finance, an Indian non-bank lender, for small merchant loans starting at 15,000 rupees.
Google Cloud and Axis My India have announced an application, ‘a’, to grow people’s awareness and access to the government’s social welfare programs. The company has expanded collaboration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to help farmers sell their produce online easily.
They have announced a collaboration with the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to introduce real-time payment systems through UPI for easier international payments
Google has also announced Digi-Kavach initiative, a collaborative effort to work with industry partners to ensure a more secure digital ecosystem.
