Sarvam AI to Develop India’s First Indigenous AI Model: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Government Launches Initiative to Power India’s AI Vision

In a landmark step towards realizing India’s aspirations in artificial intelligence, the Indian government announced on Saturday that Sarvam AI has been selected to build the nation’s first homegrown AI foundational model. While releasing the guidelines for the Electronic Chips and Microprocessor Scheme (ECMS), Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that Sarvam AI was chosen from among 67 proposals submitted for the program. He also revealed that 2-3 additional startups are expected to join the initiative over time, indicating a broader, multi-entity push toward indigenous AI capability development.

Highlights

• Sarvam AI selected from 67 proposals to build India’s first foundational AI model.

• 2-3 more startups will soon join the program under the ECMS scheme.

• The initiative aims to strengthen AI capabilities across sectors like electronics and automotive.

Understanding the ECMS Scheme and Its Broader Impact

The ECMS scheme is designed as a horizontal initiative, intended to benefit a wide range of sectors beyond traditional technology fields. Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that sectors such as electronics, automotive, and others stand to gain from the advancements that foundational AI models can deliver. The government’s strategy aims at integrating AI deeply into India’s digital economy by nurturing indigenous innovation and reducing dependency on foreign technologies.

Highlights

• ECMS is a cross-sector initiative aiming for broad technological integration.

• Indigenous AI models will enhance India’s digital self-reliance.

• The program targets long-term technological leadership across industries.

Sarvam AI: Pioneering India’s Generative AI Landscape

Sarvam AI was founded in July 2023 by Vivek Raghavan and Pratyush Kumar, both of whom previously contributed to AI4Bharat, an initiative backed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani. Sarvam AI is distinguished by its full-stack offerings in Generative AI, spanning research-led innovations in model training to enterprise-grade platforms for authoring and deployment. Vivek Raghavan, noted for his role in creating Digital Public Goods (DPGs) like Aadhaar, stated that Sarvam will collaborate closely with Indian enterprises to co-develop domain-specific AI models, leveraging real-world data from different industries.

Highlights

• Sarvam AI focuses on full-stack Generative AI development.

• Founded by technologists from AI4Bharat with deep experience in public digital infrastructure.

• Will partner with Indian enterprises to co-create specialized AI models.

Vision for Population-Scale Impact and Public Good

Sarvam AI is aiming for a population-scale impact by layering Generative AI capabilities over India’s highly successful India Stack, a comprehensive suite of digital public goods including Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker. The company’s vision aligns with creating AI solutions for public-good applications, ensuring that technological advances are accessible to the broader population and not just confined to specific industries or economic segments.

Highlights

• Sarvam AI aims to integrate Gen AI with India’s digital public infrastructure.

• Focus on public-good applications for large-scale societal benefit.

• Strategic emphasis on democratizing access to AI innovations.

Sarvam AI’s Funding and Future Prospects

In December 2023, Sarvam AI raised $41 million in a Series A funding round led by Lightspeed Ventures, with active participation from Peak XV Partners and Khosla Ventures. This significant early-stage funding reflects strong investor confidence in Sarvam’s vision and technical expertise. With financial backing and governmental support, Sarvam AI is well-positioned to play a crucial role in shaping India’s AI future on a global scale.

Highlights

• $41 million raised in Series A funding in December 2023.

• Investors include Lightspeed Ventures, Peak XV Partners, and Khosla Ventures.

• Positioned for leadership in India’s emerging AI ecosystem.