Google has introduced its Gemini app in India, with support for nine Indian languages and English.

For millions of Android phone users, who rely on the Google app, the availability of Gemini will offer a choice beyond OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s GPT-based Copilot.

With support for Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu, the app highlights the importance of localisation.

Using the Gemini app, users can, for example, come up with a recipe by listing a few ingredients or craft captions for social media. Users can also add an image to get assistance like a picture of a flat tyre will offer instructions on how to change it.

Google rebranded its Bard AI chatbot as Gemini in February but users in India had to wait a few months to get the standalone app, which promises to make the chatbot more accessible.

There are two ways for Android users to access the Gemini app — as a download from Play Store or opt-in via Google Assistant. iOS or iPhone users will be able to access Gemini directly from the Google app “in the coming weeks”. Gemini is also being introduced in Google Messages (only in English for the time being and on “select devices”) in India to help users draft messages or plan events.

Besides the Gemini app for Android, Google is also bringing its Gemini 1.5 Pro, the company’s “most advanced model”, to Gemini Advanced in nine Indian languages. The model comes with a one-million token window, meaning it can handle large amounts of input, including long documents (up to 1,500 pages) and hours of videos.

“We’re unlocking new features in Gemini Advanced such as new data analysis capabilities and file uploads,” said Amar Subramanya, vice-president, engineering, Gemini experiences, Google.

Gemini can generate content in a matter of seconds but the technology behind the chatbot is in experimental stage and may put out content that’s not backed by research. Google is offering a way for users to double-check responses from Gemini. “It uses Google Search to find content that’s likely similar to or likely different from statements generated by Gemini Apps,” Google has pointed out in its online help section.