India’s Sarvam AI is making waves with a model built for 22 Indian languages, earning praise from Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Positioned as a homegrown rival to ChatGPT and Claude, can this Bengaluru startup redefine AI for India?
Sarvam AI also caught Google CEO Sundar Pichai's attention
New Delhi: India’s push for indigenous technology received a major boost at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where Bengaluru-based startup Sarvam AI unveiled its latest artificial intelligence model.
The company has drawn global attention, including praise from Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who highlighted its work as proof that advanced AI innovation is taking root in India. The endorsement has positioned Sarvam as a key player in the country’s growing AI ecosystem.
Sarvam’s newly launched model is designed specifically for India’s multilingual and culturally diverse landscape. Beyond English, its chatbot supports 22 Indian languages, aiming to deliver stronger contextual understanding and improved accuracy for regional users.
The startup claims its system performs competitively against leading global AI models such as ChatGPT and Claude, particularly in Indian language tasks. By focusing on local nuances, Sarvam seeks to bridge gaps often left by internationally developed platforms.
Operating under the tagline “AI for All from India,” the company says its mission is to make cutting-edge AI accessible across the country. Its full-stack AI platform is developed, deployed and governed within India, reflecting a broader vision of technological self-reliance.
Media has the power to save millions of lives; AI will transform every profession: Jagathesh Kaduvul
Sarvam was founded in August 2023 by Vivek Raghavan and Pratyush Kumar. While Raghavan has experience building India’s digital public infrastructure, Kumar has led open-source AI initiatives across Indian languages. Their combined expertise underpins the startup’s ambition to create foundational AI components tailored to national needs.
The company has also announced collaborations aimed at expanding AI applications. A partnership with Qualcomm focuses on developing generative AI solutions for Indian languages and use cases. Additionally, Sarvam has tied up with German technology firm Bosch to integrate AI capabilities into automotive systems.
With rising global interest and strong domestic backing, Sarvam AI represents a significant step in India’s bid to shape the future of artificial intelligence on its own terms.
