Reliance Jio to Build ‘Bharat GPT’ with IIT-B; Smart TV OS Coming Soon

Reliance Jio Infocomm and IIT Bombay are working together to develop a large language model called Bharat GPT, to capitalise on the growing importance of generative AI and machine learning. At the premiere technology institution’s annual Techfest event this week, Jio Infocomm chairman Akash Ambani spoke about entrepreneurship for social good, AI consuming everything, and India becoming a US$ 6 trillion economy by 2030. The company has had an association with IIT Bombay since 2014.

The ”Bharat GPT” programme is envisioned as part of a transformation into “Jio 2.0”, as the coming decade will be defined by applications of generative AI and LLMs both within the company and across all the sectors it participates in, according to Ambani. Specifics of the capabilities of Bharat GPT and the work currently under way to develop it have not yet been announced.

In addition, Reliance Jio is working on a smart TV platform, and will also be launching new devices, products and services in the media, communications and commerce spaces. “We have been working on our own OS for a while now for TVs and we are comprehensively thinking about how to launch it”, Ambani stated in his address to the Techfest audience.

A range of smart TVs could join Jio’s existing feature phone, smartphone, laptop, gaming, DTH and Internet access devices. The company has in the past developed its own ‘Pragati OS’ based on Android for the JioPhone Next and has worked with KaiOS for the original JioPhone. The JioBook also runs a custom Android-based OS called JioOS. It is likely that the company will emphasise regional language support and low cost.

The smart TV platform would likely tie in with Jio’s media properties including the JioCinema streaming platform, which recently absorbed Voot and is likely to merge with Disney+ Hotstar, in addition to JioSaavn for music and the JioGamesCloud and JioGamesWatch game streaming and content platforms. The company also offers 5G cellular and broadband fibre Internet access as well as DTH TV services. Parent company Reliance owns multiple TV channels and digital platforms delivering news, business, entertainment and sports content. Its Viacom18 subsidiary currently owns the rights to broadcast all international and domestic BCCI cricket matches as well as the IPL, the 2024 Olympics, MotoGP, NBA, and many other sports franchises.