India leads global adoption of Google Gemini’s AI tutoring tool

India has emerged as the world's number one country for using Guided Learning, Google's new Socratic AI tutoring feature built into Gemini, the company announced today. The rapid adoption comes as over 2 million Indian students now have free access to Google AI Pro through a special student offer.The AI-powered tutor uses Socratic questioning methods instead of providing direct answers, encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills. Early results show 95% of student users in India report feeling more confident after using Gemini, according to Google.India's leadership in AI learning adoption isn't surprising given its demographics. The country represents Google's largest global user base of 18-24 year olds on Search, making it a natural testing ground for educational AI tools.Indian students are engaging with the platform differently than users elsewhere, conducting lengthy multi-turn conversations and exploring topics in depth rather than seeking quick answers. They're also highly multimodal, frequently uploading photos of textbook pages, diagrams, and exam questions for help.Language flexibility has proven crucial to adoption. Students regularly switch between Hindi and other Indian languages within single conversations.

Google has made Gemini's AI mode available in eight Indian languages, with plans to expand further.The Guided Learning feature functions as a 24/7 personal tutor, helping students across diverse subjects including STEM, exam preparation, programming languages, and creative skills. Rather than replacing teachers, Google positions the tool as a supplement that enhances learning when human support isn't available.Google also unveiled a position paper today outlining its approach to AI in education, emphasising learning science principles over simple answer engines. The company has fine-tuned a specialised language model called LearnLM that powers these educational features.