In a significant move that strengthens India’s ambitions to become a leader in AI, the government has selected Sarvam AI, a Bengaluru-based startup, to develop the country’s first indigenous foundational AI model. This project is part of the government’s IndiaAI Mission. It is designed to power India’s digital sovereignty while advancing the nation’s capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI).
The announcement was made by Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, during the launch of the IndiaAI Mission. Sarvam AI has been given the task of building a sovereign large language model (LLM) with advanced reasoning capabilities. The model will feature multi-lingual proficiency and be optimized for voice-based applications, enhancing user interactions. Furthermore, this homegrown model will be developed in collaboration with AI4Bharat at IIT Madras to meet India’s unique needs. It will also be highly secure, with all data kept within the country’s borders.
Building India’s Sovereign AI Infrastructure
Sarvam AI’s model is also expected to have 70 billion parameters. It is designed to be a powerful and scalable AI solution that can compete with the world’s best. The company will receive access to 4,086 Nvidia H100 GPUs for six months from the IndiaAI Mission’s common compute cluster to build the model from scratch. The AI tool will also be capable of reasoning and performing advanced language generation tasks. It will seamlessly integrate with India’s existing tech ecosystem.
Dr. Vivek Raghavan, Co-founder of Sarvam AI, expressed excitement about the project, stating,
“We are humbled by the responsibility bestowed upon us to build India’s sovereign model, and we are ready to build AI that reaches every corner of the country. This is a crucial step toward building critical national AI infrastructure.”
Three AI Model Variants
Sarvam AI has outlined its development plan, which includes three variants of the foundational model:
- Sarvam-Large: For advanced reasoning and generation tasks
- Sarvam-Small: Designed for real-time interactive applications
- Sarvam-Edge: A compact version meant for on-device tasks
These variants will cater to various sectors, enabling AI applications in areas such as healthcare, education, and government services. These models offer versatility, allowing enterprises, startups, and government agencies to unlock intelligence locally. This avoids sending sensitive data abroad.
Supporting India’s Digital Transformation
The initiative is part of India’s broader effort to strengthen its position as a global player in AI while ensuring that data privacy and sovereignty are not compromised. According to Ashwini Vaishnaw,
“We are confident that Sarvam’s models will be competitive with global models. This project not only boosts India’s technological capabilities but also aligns with the nation’s digital transformation goals.”
Sarvam AI’s approach will also leverage India’s robust digital public infrastructure. This includes Aadhaar, UPI, and other government platforms. The models developed by Sarvam will be deployed and optimized locally to benefit Indian enterprises, government initiatives, and citizens. This effort aims to reduce dependence on foreign technology and empower Indian industries to lead the way in AI-driven innovation.
Collaboration with AI4Bharat
Sarvam AI’s collaboration with AI4Bharat, a research initiative at IIT Madras, will ensure that the models are highly effective in understanding and processing multiple Indian languages. AI4Bharat has been a pioneer in Indian language AI research. It will contribute its expertise to ensure Sarvam’s models cater to India’s linguistic diversity.
Dr. Pratyush Kumar, Co-founder of Sarvam AI, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, saying, “We are collaborating with AI4Bharat at IIT Madras, a leader in Indian language AI research, to build these models. We aim to ensure that our models not only perform effectively in Indian languages but also cater to various sectors with real-world applications.”
A Step Toward Global AI Leadership
The IndiaAI Mission and the development of a sovereign large language model by Sarvam AI are essential components of India’s strategy to enhance its digital capabilities and secure a leadership position in the global AI landscape. The project underscores the importance of building homegrown solutions that cater to India’s needs while aligning with global AI standards.
With AI technologies poised to reshape industries across the world, Sarvam AI’s work will play a pivotal role in ensuring that India remains competitive in the fast-evolving AI space. By building indigenous AI models, India will enhance its technological sovereignty. Furthermore, this will lay the groundwork for the future of AI in the country.
As the AI race intensifies globally, Sarvam AI’s role in the IndiaAI Mission signifies a major step towards achieving India’s AI ambitions, with a focus on building sustainable, scalable, and secure AI solutions that benefit both the country and the global community. This initiative marks an important chapter in India’s AI journey, and Sarvam AI’s development of India’s first homegrown AI foundational model is a key milestone in the country’s quest for digital sovereignty and innovation.
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