Microsoft announced a strategic partnership with Indian startup Sarvam AI on Thursday, aimed at supporting the development of voice-based generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications. This collaboration was unveiled during CEO Satya Nadella's three-day visit to India, underscoring Microsoft's commitment to fostering innovation and driving wider adoption of its products in the rapidly expanding Indian market.
During the visit, Nadella reaffirmed Microsoft's initiative to provide AI skilling opportunities to 2 million Indians by 2025, reflecting the company's dedication to empowering talent and driving digital transformation in India, the fastest-growing major economy.
Sarvam AI, a pioneering startup, is focused on building genAI models tailored for Indic languages and contextual understanding. As part of the partnership, Sarvam AI will leverage Microsoft's cloud services, including Azure OpenAI Service, to develop and deploy its solutions effectively, enhancing accessibility and scalability.
Founded by individuals with expertise in AI models from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras-based research group AI4Bharat, Sarvam AI has demonstrated significant potential in the AI landscape. The startup recently secured $41 million in a series A funding round from prominent investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, and Khosla Ventures, underscoring investor confidence in its innovative approach and market prospects.
Microsoft's collaboration with Sarvam AI signals a significant step towards advancing voice-based generative AI applications tailored for Indian languages and context, catering to the diverse needs of users and driving technological innovation in the region.
