Sarvam Introduces Indus AI Chat App amidst Growing Competition

Sarvam Launches Indus Chat App for Indian Users

Sarvam, an Indian AI startup that specializes in developing models for local languages and users, has recently introduced its Indus chat app for both web and mobile platforms. This move marks the company’s entry into a rapidly expanding market that is currently dominated by global players such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

The launch of the Indus chat app comes at a time when India has emerged as a key battleground for the adoption of generative AI technology. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the company’s ChatGPT platform boasts over 100 million weekly active users in India. Similarly, Anthropic has revealed that India accounts for 5.8% of total Claude usage, second only to the U.S.

Indus serves as the chat interface for Sarvam’s newly unveiled Sarvam 105B model, a massive 105-billion-parameter language model. The app was launched shortly after Sarvam introduced its 105B and 30B models at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. During the summit, the startup also outlined its enterprise initiatives, hardware plans, and partnerships with companies like HMD and Bosch for AI integration in Nokia feature phones and automotive applications.

Currently available in beta on iOS, Android, and the web, the Indus app allows users to input queries through typing or voice commands and receive responses in both text and audio formats. Users can log in using their phone number, Google or Microsoft accounts, or Apple ID, although the service is currently limited to users in India.

Despite its innovative features, the Indus app does have some limitations. Users are unable to delete their chat history without deleting their account, and there is no option to disable the app’s reasoning feature, which can occasionally slow down response times. Sarvam has also cautioned that access may be restricted as the company gradually expands its compute capacity.

Co-founder Pratyush Kumar of Sarvam mentioned, “We’re gradually rolling out Indus on a limited compute capacity, so you may encounter a waitlist initially. We will extend access over time,” emphasizing the company’s eagerness to receive user feedback.

Established in 2023, Sarvam has secured $41 million in funding to date from investors like Lightspeed Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, and Khosla Ventures as it focuses on building large language models customized for the Indian market.

Sarvam is part of a small but growing cohort of Indian startups that are striving to create domestic alternatives to global artificial intelligence platforms. This effort aligns with India’s goal of attaining greater control over its AI infrastructure.