Context:
Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI will be the first startup to receive official government support for developing an indigenous large language model (LLM), Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced. The announcement was made during the launch of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) guidelines.
Large Language Model (LLM)
A Large Language Model (LLM) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) program trained on vast amounts of text data to understand and generate human-like text. They are capable of tasks like language translation, text summarization, and answering questions based on their knowledge.
Support Under IndiaAI Mission
- Sarvam AI, founded in mid-2023, will gain access to a high-powered cluster of GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) essential for training large AI models.
- The startup will have access to 400 GPUs out of the 14,000 GPUs acquired under the IndiaAI Mission, for a six-month period.
About Sarvam AI’s LLM
- The model will be:
- Fluent in Indian languages
- Designed for voice-first interfaces
- Capable of complex reasoning
- Built for secure, population-scale deployment
Government Initiatives for AI Development:
- AI Kosh, a government portal, now hosts over 350 datasets aimed at supporting AI developers with structured, India-specific data.
- Tools and technologies for the India AI Safety Institute are nearing completion, according to the IT Minister.
Significance:
- Sarvam AI’s project marks a major step towards building sovereign AI capabilities focused on Indian languages and local needs.
- This move reflects the government’s broader push to promote self-reliance in critical AI technologies and create a secure, scalable AI ecosystem for India.
