India is accelerating its AI development with the upcoming launch of Sarvam AI, a sophisticated chatbot designed for voice interaction and comprehension in Hindi and nine other regional languages. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the AI is slated for full operation between December 2025 and January 2026, highlighting the nation’s strategic focus on indigenous AI technologies. The minister’s personal endorsement reflects the government’s significant backing for this initiative.
The AI is being brought to life by a startup in Bengaluru, which excels at transforming cutting-edge AI research into practical applications. Their previous development included a voice-based system for businesses to engage customers, trained on data from ten Indian languages. This deep integration of local languages sets Sarvam AI apart from global competitors like ChatGPT and Gemini, making it an essential tool for domestic users and potentially attractive to a wider audience.
Sarvam AI is being crafted to handle live voice conversations and automate repetitive tasks, serving as a crucial platform for exploring the next generation of generative AI in India. The government is actively working alongside the startup to ensure its successful implementation.
In a significant development for public services, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has partnered with Sarvam AI to upgrade Aadhaar services. This collaboration, initiated in April, aims to leverage generative AI for enhanced efficiency, intelligence, and security in Aadhaar enrollment and updates. Sarvam AI will provide immediate feedback to Aadhaar holders and proactively detect fraudulent activities by flagging suspicious authentication attempts and alerting authorities swiftly.
The initial set of languages supported by Sarvam AI includes Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Odia, Punjabi, and Malayalam. The development team intends to broaden this language support in the near future, reinforcing India’s growing capabilities in AI.
Sarvam AI signifies a pivotal moment in India’s journey towards achieving self-sufficiency in artificial intelligence. Its fusion of native language voice interaction and robust fraud detection technology is set to revolutionize how people in India engage with AI.