Uttarakhand CM launches AI voice portal to preserve Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari languages

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated an AI voice portal on Thursday aimed at safeguarding the Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Jaunsari languages. The 'Bhasha AI' project, spearheaded by the AI Strategic Engineering (AiSE) Foundation, seeks to create a database of the three regional languages, enabling AI systems to comprehend and converse in them. Dhami himself recorded a voice clip in Kumaoni during the launch, held at the chief minister's camp office.

The initiative aims to preserve Uttarakhand's linguistic heritage and culture by incorporating local languages into digital platforms. "Languages and dialects are our identity," Dhami emphasized, stressing that the state's linguistic diversity must be shared globally through technological advancements. The government intends to ensure that residents in even the most remote areas can access information about government schemes in their native tongues and communicate their concerns using those languages.

Sachidanand Semwal, the founder of the non-profit AiSE Foundation, will oversee the technical aspects of the portal, including data collection, model building, AI training, and language model validation. Padma Shri folk singer Pritam Bhartwan will serve as the language expert coordinator. Shakti Prasad Bhatt is designated as the execution head.

Bhartwan highlighted that the state's local languages encapsulate a rich tradition of folk life, traditional songs, and cultural practices. The Jagar Academy will collaborate with the initiative to guarantee precise pronunciation and maintain the languages' authentic essence.