Sarvam - an artificial intelligence startup based in Bengaluru (India), has launched the Indus chat application, playing the role of interface for the large language model Sarvam 105B. This is a model with a scale of 105 billion parameters, designed to serve users and local languages in India.
The app is currently in beta testing on iOS, Android and the web. Users can enter or ask questions and receive feedback in writing or audio. Indus allows login with phone numbers or popular accounts, but is currently only used in the Indian market.
The launch took place in the context of India emerging as an important market for generative AI. According to Sam Altman - Managing Director of OpenAI, ChatGPT has reached more than 100 million weekly active users in this country. Anthropic also said that India accounts for 5.8% of Claude users, behind the US.
However, Indus still has some limitations. Users cannot delete chat history without deleting the account, and there is no option to turn off the inference feature, which can slow down the response speed. Sarvam said it will expand computing capabilities and gradually improve the experience in the near future.
Founded in 2023, Sarvam has raised $41 million from investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners and Khosla Ventures. The company is developing large-scale AI models to build a domestic technology ecosystem, reducing dependence on global platforms.
