The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has taken a significant step toward advancing research in linguistics, cognition, and artificial intelligence with the launch of its new Language and Cognition Lab. India, with its vast multilingual heritage, presents a unique landscape for scientific study in language processing and cognitive behaviour. This new lab aims to explore that diversity while contributing to the development of human-centred and linguistically aware AI systems—a direction that aligns with the country’s growing emphasis on inclusive technological innovation.

The lab’s establishment comes at a time when conversations around language representation in technology have gained widespread attention. As digital services and AI-powered platforms expand across urban and rural India, linguistic inclusivity has become essential. Many existing tools remain heavily skewed towards English or a limited set of Indian languages, creating gaps in accessibility and user experience. IIT Madras aims to address these gaps by bringing together experts in linguistics, cognitive science, computer science, and artificial intelligence to study how individuals across India perceive, process, and use language in everyday life.

One of the core objectives of the Language and Cognition Lab is to deepen scientific understanding of India’s linguistic diversity. With more than 19,500 languages and dialects, and hundreds of actively spoken tongues, India offers a rare environment for studying multilingualism at scale. The lab intends to analyse how native speakers of different languages think, interpret meaning, learn grammar, and process sound—key insights that can heavily influence the next generation of natural language technologies.

In the long term, the initiative seeks to drive innovation in linguistically aware AI, where technology adapts to people rather than expecting people to adapt to technology. This includes improving speech recognition, machine translation, large language models, educational tools, and accessibility services that must function effectively across India’s linguistic landscape. By incorporating cognitive research, the lab aims to ensure that AI systems understand not just the structure of language, but the deeper human factors that shape communication—emotion, context, intent, and cultural nuance.

Another major focus area will be the preservation and documentation of underrepresented languages. Many Indian languages and dialects are spoken by small communities and risk fading without technological support. Data collected and analysed through the lab can contribute to revitalizing these languages by enabling their inclusion in digital tools, educational programmes, and AI applications.

The Language and Cognition Lab also envisions collaborations with national and international institutions, language scholars, government bodies, and technology firms. Such partnerships can accelerate breakthroughs in multilingual computing and cognitive research, strengthening India’s position as a leader in inclusive AI development.