Sarvam AI is revolutionising India’s artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. Established in 2023 by Dr. Vivek Raghavan and Dr. Pratyush Kumar, this startup based in Bengaluru is focused on creating large language models (LLMs) that cater specifically to the linguistic richness of India.

In an era where global AI leaders like OpenAI and Google DeepMind dominate, Sarvam AI is crafting solutions that address the unique requirements of India, with an emphasis on voice-centric applications and extensive integration of Indian languages.

The leadership of this startup comprises two experienced professionals who possess a unique blend of public infrastructure insight, AI research expertise, and extensive systems engineering experience.

Dr. Vivek Raghavan: The Architect Behind India’s Digital Framework

Dr. Raghavan is a key figure in India’s digital transformation, having significantly contributed to Aadhaar, celebrated as the largest digital identity initiative worldwide. He was integral to the project from just prior to the first Aadhaar number being issued, participating in its extensive rollout and experiencing the milestone of generating the billionth Aadhaar number.

His skill set extends beyond identity management. He has been a consultant for Bhashini, India’s national AI-powered language platform, and held the position of Chief Mentor at AI4Bharat, an initiative focused on providing open-source AI datasets accessible in Indian languages.

Armed with an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.Tech. from IIT Delhi, Dr. Raghavan is dedicated to leveraging AI to tackle large-scale, practical challenges.

Dr. Pratyush Kumar: The AI Innovator Advancing Machine Learning Accessibility

Dr. Kumar, who earned a Ph.D. from ETH Zurich and a B.Tech. from IIT Bombay, possesses a wealth of knowledge in AI research, systems engineering, and education. His professional journey includes influential roles at Microsoft Research, IBM Research, and IIT Madras, where he advanced AI applications tailored to Indian languages.

Prior to his role at Sarvam AI, Dr. Kumar co-founded AI4Bharat and PadhAI, a platform that educated countless students in deep learning. His goal is to ensure generative AI significantly impacts India, emulating its success in Western nations, by crafting models that inherently comprehend and process Indian languages.

Unlike numerous AI startups that depend on pre-existing Western models, Sarvam AI is creating its LLMs from scratch, specifically optimised for Indian languages and relevant applications.

The company’s AI platform empowers businesses and developers to build and evaluate generative AI solutions, particularly voice-centric interfaces, which play a vital role in closing digital access discrepancies in India.

Sarvam AI’s ambitious vision has garnered the attention of international investors from the outset. In December 2023, the firm achieved a $41 million Series A funding round, led by Lightspeed, with contributions from Peak XV Partners and Khosla Ventures.

This funding reinforced Sarvam AI’s status as one of India’s most promising AI startups, emphasising its capacity to create population-scale AI solutions specifically designed for India’s multilingual environment.

In 2024, the firm launched a comprehensive GenAI platform that includes five key products: Sarvam Agents, Sarvam 2B, Shuka 1.0, Sarvam Models, and A1. These offerings aim to enhance AI integration in Indian languages across the nation.

On X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Kumar revealed that the AI startup successfully translated a recent Lex Fridman podcast featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi into nine Indian languages, such as Gujarati, Odia, Tamil, and Telugu, thereby increasing accessibility for speakers of these languages and broadening its outreach.

India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion and more than 20 officially recognised languages, predominantly features AI models focussed on English and a select few global languages. Sarvam AI is on a mission to change this by developing AI that comprehends and interacts in various Indian languages, thus ensuring that AI serves as a facilitator of inclusivity and access, rather than a barrier.

With government initiatives like Bhashini advocating for AI-led language solutions, Sarvam AI is strategically positioned at the vanguard of India’s generative AI evolution.