Google CEO ‘sneaks’ into civic school, launches tutor app

MUMBAI: Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, visited a municipal school in DN Nagar, Andheri, on Friday to launch a speech-based application called ‘Bolo’. The reading-tutor app was launched in the country earlier this week.
Pichai interacted with teachers and students who were learning to use the app. Students asked him about his ambition as a nine-year-old, his favourite food and also, which subjects he liked and hated most. Pichai patiently answered all questions. He said that he did not like biology much as a student and mathematics was his favourite. He said he loved paani-puri.

The application uses speech recognition and text-to-speech technology to help students learn in Hindi and English. It has mainly been launched for rural students. The programme was organized jointly by Piramal Foundation and Google.Later, Pichai tweeted, ‘...Had the chance to visit some students today who are learning to read using Bolo, excited for all the great books they will discover!’ His visit was kept under wraps till late on Friday for security reasons, said an officer. He also took part in the India chapter of women@Google at their ‘I am Remarkable’ event.