A Chatbot That Won’t Take Bribes for Giving Advice Is a Hit in India:
Vijayalakshmi, who goes by a single name as is common in southern India, voiced a question to a bot in her native Kannada language on education scholarships. Moments later, a human-like voice responded to explain the government aid available to her 15-year-old son.
While the sea change that was ushered in by OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in November has brought to the fore concerns about AI’s role in the spread of disinformation and the potential loss of jobs, the tests in Bangalore and in Mewat in northern India show it’s also a tool that can aid social equality. The tech can assist in professional communications, empower people who don’t have language skills and help those who have a disability, such as users of BeMyEyes, a personal assistant for the visually impaired.