Building India’s Voice in AI.

Introduction

India, with its 22 sanctioned languages and thousands of dialects, presents a unique challenge for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. Sarvam AI, a Bengaluru-based startup founded in 2023, is tackling this challenge head-on by developing AI models tailored to India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

This case study explores Sarvam AI’s mission, innovations, and impact, offering valuable insights for tech enthusiasts, developers, and businesses looking to understand the evolving AI landscape in India.

Background

Founded by Vivek Raghavan and Pratyush Kumar, Sarvam AI emerged to address the lack of AI solutions designed for India’s diverse population. The startup focuses on building large language models (LLMs) and voice-enabled AI systems that support Indian languages, aiming to make technology accessible to millions of non-English speakers.

In December 2023, Sarvam AI secured $41 million in Series A funding—one of the largest for an Indian AI startup—led by prominent investors such as Lightspeed and Peak XV. According to a press release on Sarvam AI’s website, “Our mission is to make AI that reflects India’s linguistic and cultural richness, enabling seamless digital inclusion for all.”

Innovations and Solutions

Sarvam AI’s flagship offering is Sarvam-1, a foundational LLM optimised for India’s multilingual needs. Unlike global models that prioritise English, Sarvam-1 supports 10 Indian languages—including Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali—with plans to expand to more.

The startup also introduced OpenHathi, an open-source model for text and voice interactions. It has quickly gained traction among developers, especially in low-resource environments where mainstream models often fail.

One of Sarvam AI’s key innovations is its focus on voice-driven AI. As noted in a report by the IndiaAI Mission, “Voice-based interfaces are critical for India, where literacy rates and smartphone penetration vary extensively.” Sarvam AI’s voice solutions power applications like multilingual customer support and educational tools, making digital experiences more accessible to rural and semi-urban users.

Additionally, Sarvam AI offers APIs for businesses and developers, enabling seamless integration of their models into real-world products. For example, a retail company could deploy a chatbot that responds in regional languages, enhancing customer interaction and engagement.

Impact on India’s AI Ecosystem

Sarvam AI’s efforts are significantly influencing India’s digital landscape. By aligning with the IndiaAI Mission—a government initiative to advance AI innovation—Sarvam AI is helping establish India as a global hub for responsible, inclusive AI development.

In April 2025, the startup was selected to develop a 14-billion-parameter foundational model, as reported by Analytics India Magazine:

“Sarvam AI’s selection under the IndiaAI Mission underscores its potential to deliver world-class AI solutions tailored for India.”

Its models are already making a difference in sectors such as education—where AI-driven learning tools enable personalised education in native languages—and governance, where multilingual chatbots are streamlining public service delivery.

Sarvam’s collaboration with Google AI, incorporating models like Gemini, further enhances its capabilities by blending global expertise with local insight.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite its rapid rise, Sarvam AI faces several hurdles. Building AI models for low-resource languages demands large, diverse datasets—which are often scarce or unstructured. Competing with global tech giants like Google and Microsoft also requires continuous innovation and focus.

However, these challenges open up unique opportunities. By targeting India-specific use cases—like voice AI for rural users or regionally adapted chatbots—Sarvam AI is creating a niche in both domestic and global markets.

With government initiatives backing AI infrastructure, such as the IndiaAI Mission’s plan to provide 18,000 GPUs to startups, Sarvam AI is well-positioned to scale its models and strengthen its computing capacity.

Why Sarvam AI Matters

Sarvam AI represents the power of localised, inclusive AI solutions. By prioritising India’s linguistic diversity and digital inclusion, the startup isn’t just solving today’s problems—it’s shaping the future of AI in the country.

Initiatives like OpenHathi empower developers to build applications that resonate with India’s 1.4 billion people, while Sarvam’s enterprise-grade tools enable businesses to scale and localise.

For developers, businesses, and government bodies, Sarvam AI offers a blueprint for meaningful AI innovation—one that’s accessible, scalable, and truly Indian at heart.

Conclusion

Sarvam AI is redefining how artificial intelligence can serve a diverse nation like India. From multilingual LLMs to public sector tools, the startup is breaking language barriers and enabling digital inclusion at scale.

As it continues to innovate under the IndiaAI Mission and through global partnerships, Sarvam AI stands as a beacon for emerging AI startups—and a source of inspiration for anyone looking to unlock the vast potential of India’s linguistic ecosystem.