Sarvam Launches Indus Chat App, Taking on Global AI Giants
Sarvam, an emerging Indian AI startup, has officially launched its Indus chat app, aimed at catering to local languages and user needs. The app, available for both web and mobile, marks Sarvam’s entry into a rapidly growing market dominated by established global players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. This ambitious launch aligns with India’s rising significance in the generative AI landscape.
What’s New with Indus?
The launch of Indus comes at a pivotal moment as generative AI thrives in India. In fact, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, recently revealed that ChatGPT boasts over 100 million weekly active users in the country. Similarly, Anthropic has reported that India constitutes 5.8% of total Claude usage, making it second only to the U.S.
Indus operates as a chat interface powered by Sarvam’s newly announced 105B model, which boasts a staggering 105 billion parameters. Just two days prior to the app’s release, Sarvam unveiled both its 105B and 30B models at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. During the summit, the startup unveiled additional enterprise initiatives and hardware plans, forming partnerships with notable companies such as HMD to integrate AI with Nokia feature phones and Bosch for AI-enabled automotive applications.
User-Friendly Features of the Indus App
Currently in beta, the Indus app supports users on iOS, Android, and the web. This user-friendly platform allows individuals to either type or voice their queries, receiving responses in both text and audio formats. Signing in is a breeze, as users can use their phone numbers, Google or Microsoft accounts, or Apple IDs. However, it’s important to note that the service is currently limited to users in India.
Limitations and Future Expansions
While the app shows promise, it does come with some limitations. Users currently cannot delete their chat history without deleting their entire account, and the reasoning feature cannot be turned off, which may slow down response times at times. Sarvam has openly acknowledged that access to the app may be restricted as they continue to expand their computing capacity in the coming weeks.
“We’re gradually rolling out Indus on a limited compute capacity, so you may hit a waitlist at first. We will expand access over time,” stated Sarvam co-founder Pratyush Kumar on X. The company is also actively seeking feedback from users to improve the app.
Investors Backing Sarvam’s Vision
Founded in 2023, Sarvam has successfully raised $41 million from various investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, and Khosla Ventures, all of whom support its mission to develop large language models tailored specifically for the Indian market.
Conclusion: A New Player in the AI Arena
Sarvam’s launch of the Indus chat app signifies a noteworthy step toward building domestic AI solutions in India. As more Indian startups endeavor to create alternatives to global artificial intelligence platforms, the local landscape is becoming more competitive. With its focus on Indian languages and user experience, Sarvam aims to carve out its niche in this dynamic industry, ultimately challenging the dominance of major players.
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