India’s First Homegrown Sovereign AI Model, Sarvam AI To Build

India’s First Homegrown Sovereign AI Model is set to transform the nation’s tech landscape, with Sarvam AI leading the charge. Chosen by the Indian government under the IndiaAI Mission, Sarvam AI is developing a large language model (LLM) that will be entirely built, trained, and deployed in India. This model will support reasoning in Indian languages, focus on voice-based tasks, and serve India’s vast population securely. Backed by $41 million in funding and government infrastructure, Sarvam AI is creating a truly Indian AI ecosystem that prioritizes data privacy and technological independence.Introduction

Imagine an AI that speaks Hindi, Tamil, or Telugu as fluently as you do, helping farmers check crop prices or students learn in their native language. This is the vision behind India’s First Homegrown Sovereign AI Model, a groundbreaking project led by Sarvam AI. As global tech giants dominate AI, India is stepping up to build its own solution—one that reflects its linguistic and cultural diversity. Supported by the IndiaAI Mission, this initiative is a bold move toward tech self-reliance. Let’s explore how Sarvam AI is making this happen and what it means for India’s future.

What is Sarvam AI?

Sarvam AI is a Bengaluru-based startup founded in 2023 by Dr. Vivek Raghavan and Dr. Pratyush Kumar. It’s not just another tech company—it’s a pioneer in creating Indian AI models tailored for India’s unique needs. With over 20 languages spoken across the country, global AI models often struggle to understand India’s diversity. Sarvam AI is changing that by building large language models (LLMs) that work seamlessly in Indian languages.

Their flagship models, Sarvam-1 and Sarvam 2B, are trained on massive datasets (2 trillion and 4 trillion tokens, respectively) that include Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali. These models are designed for voice-first applications, perfect for a country where millions rely on phone calls and voice messages. Sarvam AI’s clients include big names like UIDAI and Urban Company, showing its growing impact (Sarvam AI).

What is AI, you ask? Simply put, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is technology that mimics human thinking—solving problems, answering questions, or even creating art. Sarvam AI is taking this technology and making it Indian, ensuring it serves everyone from city dwellers to rural communities.

The IndiaAI Mission: A Step Towards Tech Sovereignty

The India AI Mission is India’s ambitious plan to become a global AI leader. Launched in 2023, it focuses on building a strong AI ecosystem within the country, from research to real-world applications. A key goal is to create sovereign AI models—AI systems fully developed in India, using local data and infrastructure. This ensures data stays secure and technology aligns with national priorities.

Out of 67 proposals, the government chose Sarvam AI to build India’s First Homegrown Sovereign AI Model (ProKerala). Why Sarvam? Because it’s committed to creating an AI stack that’s 100% Indian, from the data it’s trained on to the servers it runs on. This is a big deal—it means India can control its AI future, reducing dependence on foreign tech giants.

Building India’s First Sovereign AI Model

So, how is Sarvam AI building India’s First Homegrown Sovereign AI Model? Here’s the breakdown:

• From the Ground Up: Unlike some startups that tweak existing models (like Meta’s Llama), Sarvam AI is building its model from scratch. This gives them full control over every aspect, ensuring it’s tailored for India (Fortune India).
• Indian Languages: The model will support reasoning in 10 Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali. Users can ask questions in their native language, and the AI will respond accurately, whether in Devanagari or Roman script (Moneycontrol).
• Voice-First Design: India is a voice-first nation, with millions using voice messages or calls. Sarvam’s model is optimized for voice tasks, making it accessible to people who may not read or write fluently (Business Today).
• Population-Scale Use: Built for secure, large-scale deployment, this model can serve India’s 1.4 billion people, from urban tech hubs to rural villages.
• Local Infrastructure: The government has provided Sarvam AI with compute infrastructure worth INR 200 Cr, including access to over 10,000 GPUs. This ensures the model is built and runs on Indian soil (Elets eGov).

This isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating an AI that feels familiar to Indians, not foreign. As Sarvam’s co-founder Vivek Raghavan puts it, “Our goal is to build multi-modal, multi-scale foundation models from scratch… unlocking intelligence without sending data beyond borders” (Inc42).

Funding and Support: Fueling the Future

Building a sovereign AI model requires serious resources, and Sarvam AI has plenty. In December 2023, the startup raised $41 million in its Series A round, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with Peak XV Partners and Khosla Ventures joining in (Forbes India). This funding is powering the development of their AI models and expanding their team.

The Indian government is also stepping up. Through the IndiaAI Mission, Sarvam AI has access to cutting-edge compute infrastructure, including GPUs and data centers. The mission plans to build a facility with over 18,700 GPUs, a game-changer for AI research in India (Analytics India). This public-private partnership shows India’s commitment to leading in AI.

The Future of AI in India

The selection of Sarvam AI to build India’s First Homegrown Sovereign AI Model is a milestone for India’s tech journey. Here’s why it matters:

• Tech Sovereignty: By controlling its AI stack, India protects data privacy and reduces reliance on foreign tech. This is critical for national security (Outlook Business).
• Economic Impact: AI could add $957 billion to India’s economy by 2035. Sovereign models will drive innovation in healthcare, education, and agriculture, creating jobs and opportunities.
• Global Competitiveness: Sarvam’s models, like Sarvam 2B, are already outperforming global peers like Meta’s Llama, despite smaller datasets (Analytics India). This puts India on the global AI map.
• Inclusivity: By supporting Indian languages, Sarvam AI makes technology accessible to millions who don’t speak English. Imagine a farmer in Punjab using AI to check weather forecasts in Punjabi—this is the future Sarvam is building.

Challenges remain, like scaling infrastructure and handling India’s linguistic complexity. But with government backing and Sarvam’s expertise, the future looks bright. This project could inspire more Indian AI models, creating a vibrant AI ecosystem.

Conclusion

Sarvam To Build India’s First Homegrown Sovereign AI Model is a bold step toward a tech-independent India. By creating an AI that speaks India’s languages, runs on Indian servers, and serves Indian needs, Sarvam AI is redefining what AI can do. Backed by $41 million and government support, this project is not just about technology—it’s about empowering 1.4 billion people. As India takes its place in the global AI race, Sarvam AI is leading the way, one language at a time.