Google is all set to host its annual, Google for India event. Set to be the sixth edition of Google’s biggest event for the country, this one is scheduled to be an online-only affair, where the company is expected to make some big India-centric product announcements. With the event delivered through a live stream, Alphabet and Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, is set to deliver the keynote address, with other key figures at the company, as well as, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications, Electronics and IT, Law & Justice also scheduled to be part of the event.
“Over the last six years, we have consistently invested in building helpful products and services that extend the full potential of the internet and make it truly helpful for everyone in India. Especially in these exceptional times, we are deeply committed to building on this momentum, and unlocking new opportunities as India heads into a new, digital-first future,” Google said in a statement ahead of the event.
Google for India 2020: How to watch live
The Google for India virtual event is scheduled to begin at 2pm today, with the company already announcing the airing of the live stream of the event on YouTube. We at India Today will be covering the event and the many announcements that Google will be making at it today.
However, for those interested in watching the event live, and what it brings with itself, you can watch the live stream right on Google’s YouTube page.
Google for India 2020: What to expect
Google for India is the company’s flagship event for the country, and the one being hosted today is not only the sixth edition of the event but also the first virtual-only one. Google has already announced that the event’s keynote will be hosted by the company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, with India’s Minister of Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad, also set to make an appearance to “share the vision and path ahead to solve for India’s needs, and bring the benefits of the digital economy to all.”
Apart from these two, Google’s India Country Head and Vice President Sanjay Gupta, Google Vice President Payments and Next Billion Users Caesar Sengupta, as well as Google Senior Country Marketing Director India and Southeast Asia, Sapna Chadha, are also set to make an appearance at the event.
While there is no guarantee, but Google could also make a product announcement at the event today. In a new teaser released over the weekend, Google revealed “Something special is coming this Monday.” While the teaser doesn’t give away much, The Verge reports that this special product could indeed be a new Next smart speaker whose image was accessed by the publication only recently.
Although, before we get too excited, there’s a very good chance that the new Nest Smart speaker may not be launched in India, with its announcement made separately for western markets through the company’s social media handles later in the day.
Instead, the company may just stick to making India centric announcements as it has done in the previous versions of the event. Last year, Google had announced an artificial intelligence (AI) lab in Bengaluru, Google Pay for Business app for merchants as well as expanded Indian language support across its products such as Google Assistant, Discover, Lens, and Bolo. Today’s event could see announcements made to further the reach of these initiates across the country.
