Guwahati, Feb 18: An Assamese-language speech-to-text platform developed in Assam was presented at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, placing regional language technology from the Northeast on a national stage alongside global artificial intelligence firms.
The application, Aakhor AI, has been built by Borno Labs Private Limited and enables users to convert spoken Assamese into text. Its participation at the summit, held at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20, reflects growing efforts to integrate Indian regional languages into the country’s expanding AI ecosystem.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit on February 16. The event has drawn more than 300 exhibitors, including startups, multinational technology companies and government departments, along with AI leaders and industry representatives from India and abroad.
While much of the AI industry continues to prioritise English and a limited set of global languages, the presence of an Assamese speech recognition tool underscores concerns about digital exclusion among smaller linguistic communities. Experts have warned that the absence of local-language tools can widen access gaps in education, governance and business.
Developers Kabyanil Talukdar and Indranil Talukdar said Aakhor AI is designed to make digital tools more accessible to Assamese speakers, particularly students, writers and small business owners. Voice-based typing and content creation features aim to reduce dependence on English-language software and lower barriers to online participation.
Language technology specialists note that speech recognition systems for low-resource languages face challenges such as limited datasets and dialect diversity. Showcasing Assamese AI tools at a national forum signals increasing recognition of the need to invest in linguistic diversity within India’s technology policy.
Against the backdrop of India’s push to position itself as a key player in artificial intelligence, the inclusion of an Assamese-language platform highlights the broader question of how regional languages will be integrated into the country’s digital future.
For Assam, the development marks a step towards embedding the state’s official language within emerging AI-driven services, particularly as digital governance, online education and voice-based interfaces continue to expand.
