Tech Giant Unveils Innovative Features for Indian Market, Enhancing Digital Payments and User Security

Recently, a major tech firm unveiled several exciting features aimed specifically at the Indian market during its annual event in 2024. At this presentation, they introduced enhancements to their digital payment platform, Google Pay, expanding its offerings to include personal and gold loan options. Additionally, new health-related functionalities developed in collaboration with the healthcare industry were announced. The company also highlighted innovations designed to detect and safeguard users against scams, demonstrating its commitment to improving user security. Furthermore, support for Gemini Live and AI search summaries in local languages was rolled out to enhance accessibility.

During the event held in Delhi, the company enhanced its search functionalities, thus simplifying the process for users to communicate with businesses directly through WhatsApp. In the past, users could simply tap a provided phone number to make a call. Updates to Google Maps introduced real-time notifications for issues like flooding and fog, enhancing user awareness and safety.

The enhancements to Google Pay include new functionalities for both personal and gold loans, integrating the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system. Partnerships were established with financial entities such as Aditya Birla Capital Financial resources for personal loans and Muthoot Finance for gold loans. Customers can now secure personal loans up to ₹5 lakh and loans backed by gold reaching Rs. 50 lakh, thanks to the company's updated offerings.

Under its DigiKavach initiative, the firm reported preventing scam losses amounting to Rs. 13,000 crore and issuing over 41 million alerts to users in 2023. The automated detection system successfully identified and eliminated more than 170 million fraudulent reviews on Google Maps. Additionally, an upgraded fraud protection feature for Android users is on the way, which will help prevent the installation of harmful applications seeking access to essential permissions.

The event also highlighted new health features introduced in collaboration with partners like Apollo Hospitals, leveraging advanced deep-learning technology to enhance diagnostic procedures. The firm's AI tools are playing a crucial role in providing free screenings for tuberculosis and cancer across various regions, alleviating financial burdens for patients.

Moreover, support for Gemini Live is now available in a variety of nine languages, such as Hindi, empowering users to converse with the AI assistant and receive immediate replies. The AI overviews feature, previously limited to Hindi and English, is set to expand into four additional regional languages: Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu, further promoting inclusivity and user engagement in the digital space.