Sarvam AI: India’s Hindi-Speaking ChatGPT Rival Set for 2026 Launch!

 

New Delhi: India is set to launch its own artificial intelligence model called Sarvam AI. This comes as a big step in the country’s push for homegrown tech. On October 18, 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made this announcement at the NDTV World Summit. He said Sarvam AI will be ready by December 2025 or January 2026. The minister also shared that he plans to start using Sarvam AI himself. This move highlights India’s focus on indigenous AI solutions.

What is Sarvam AI?

 

Sarvam AI is an indigenous AI model from India. It aims to rival global giants like ChatGPT. The startup behind it is based in Bengaluru. Founded in 2023 by Dr. Vivek Raghavan and Dr. Pratyush Kumar, Sarvam AI focuses on building large language models. These models work well with Indian languages. The company has grown fast. It now has about 200 employees. Sarvam AI has raised $41 million in Series A funding. This helps them develop advanced AI tools. Their goal is to make AI useful for everyday life in India.

The startup works on voice-first AI systems. This means users can talk to the AI instead of typing. Sarvam AI trains its models on data from Indian languages. This makes it different from foreign AI like ChatGPT or Gemini. Those often struggle with local dialects. Sarvam AI wants to fix that gap. It builds a full-stack generative AI platform. This platform helps governments, businesses, and developers. They can create AI apps tailored for India.

Announcement by Ashwini Vaishnaw

Ashwini Vaishnaw is the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology. He spoke about Sarvam AI during a recent interview. He said the model will launch soon. “I’ll start using Sarvam,” he added. This shows strong government support. The announcement came at the NDTV World Summit 2025. It has created buzz in the tech world. Many see it as India’s answer to global AI dominance. Vaishnaw also talked about data centers. He called data the new oil. Data centers are like new refineries, he said. This ties into India’s AI growth.

The government is pushing indigenous AI hard. Under the IndiaAI Mission, Sarvam-AI was selected in April 2025. They will build India’s sovereign large language model. This model has 120 billion parameters. It is open source. That means anyone can use and improve it. The selection happened on April 26, 2025. It aims to create a strong AI ecosystem in India. Sarvam-AI will focus on reasoning and voice features. This makes it a key player in generative AI.

Key Features of Sarvam AI

Sarvam-AI has many useful features. It supports real-time voice interactions. Users can speak in their own language. The AI responds right away. This is great for customer service. Companies can use it to talk to clients without text. Sarvam-AI also automates tasks. It can handle queries fast.

One big feature is fraud detection. The AI spots suspicious activities. It alerts users in real time. This adds security. Sarvam-AI outperforms other models on Indian language benchmarks. It is cost-effective too. That means it runs without high costs. The startup has built AI agents. These agents work across channels like phone or WhatsApp. They understand natural speech in multiple languages.

In August 2024, Sarvam-AI launched a software tool. It lets companies use voice for customer talks. This tool was trained on 10 Indian languages. It helps users chat in their native tongue. This boosts accessibility. More people can use AI now. Sarvam-AI turns India into a testing ground for generative AI. It pushes the next big steps in tech.

Partnership with UIDAI

Sarvam-AI has teamed up with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). This happened in March 2025. The goal is to improve Aadhaar services. Aadhaar is India’s national ID system. It covers over a billion people. The partnership uses generative AI to make services smarter.

Under this deal, Sarvam-AI adds voice support to Aadhaar. Users can interact by speaking. No need to type or visit offices. The AI handles enrollment and updates. It takes real-time feedback from users. This helps spot issues like overcharging. If someone asks for extra money, the AI flags it.

Fraud detection is a key part. During authentication, the AI watches for odd behavior. It sends alerts if needed. This makes Aadhaar more secure. The system is quick to respond. It cuts down wait times. UIDAI chose Sarvam AI for its focus on Indian languages. This ensures the service reaches everyone. Even those who don’t speak English.

The partnership started on March 18, 2025. It covers voice and fraud tools in 10 languages. More languages may come later. This move shows how indigenous AI can transform government services. It aligns with India’s digital India vision.

Supported Languages and Reach

Sarvam-AI supports 10 Indian languages at launch. These include Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Odia, Punjabi, and Malayalam. Some sources mention 11 languages for AI agents. This covers most of India’s population. Hindi is the main focus. It lets millions chat in their mother tongue.

The AI handles voice interactions in these languages. It detects fraud too. Plans are in place to add more languages. This will make Sarvam AI even wider. It can reach rural areas. Where English is not common. This boosts inclusion. People from all states can use it.

On the global stage, Sarvam AI stands out. It supports local languages better than ChatGPT. This could attract international users. Especially from Indian diaspora. The model is scalable. It grows with more data.

 Future Prospects for Sarvam-AI

Sarvam-AI has a bright future. The launch in late 2025 or early 2026 is just the start. The government backs it fully. Under IndiaAI Mission, more funds may come. Sarvam-AI aims to build sovereign AI ecosystems. This includes LLMs, agents, and apps.

The startup plans to make AI open source. Developers can build on it. This sparks innovation. In six months from April 2025, they aim to finish the platform. By then, India’s compute capacity has crossed 34,000 GPUs. This powers big AI models.

Challenges remain. Data privacy is key. Sarvam-AI must ensure secure handling. Competition from global firms is tough. But indigenous focus gives an edge. Minister Vaishnaw’s support helps. He sees it as part of Viksit Bharat.

In summary, Sarvam-AI marks India’s AI independence. It brings tech to the masses. With voice in Hindi and other languages, it changes how we interact. Ashwini Vaishnaw’s adoption sets an example. Watch for the launch. It could redefine generative AI in India.