Features and Accessibility
Indus offers users the ability to interact via text or voice and receive responses in both formats. The app supports login through phone number, Google, Microsoft, or Apple ID, though access is currently limited to India. Users should expect a waitlist initially as Sarvam gradually scales its computing capacity.
Some limitations exist, including the inability to delete chat history without deleting the account, and a reasoning feature that cannot be turned off, which may affect response times. The startup encourages user feedback to refine the app experience.
Enterprise Initiatives and Partnerships
The Indus app launch follows Sarvam’s announcement of its 105B and 30B models at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The startup also highlighted plans to integrate AI into enterprise solutions and hardware. Strategic partnerships include HMD for AI-enabled Nokia feature phones and Bosch for AI-assisted automotive applications.
Sarvam aims to support both consumer-facing applications and enterprise AI solutions, marking its entry into a rapidly growing Indian AI market. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently reported that ChatGPT has over 100 million weekly active users in India, highlighting the high potential for domestic AI platforms.
Funding and Growth
Founded in 2023, Sarvam has raised $41 million from investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, and Khosla Ventures. The funding is directed toward building large language models tailored for India and expanding AI infrastructure.
By focusing on local language support and user-centric AI applications, Sarvam hopes to carve out a niche in India’s generative AI sector, which remains heavily influenced by global tech giants.
Market Context
India is emerging as a critical market for AI adoption, with both global and domestic players competing for users. Sarvam’s Indus app represents one of the first major domestic attempts to offer a localized, large language model-powered chat interface, addressing demand for India-specific AI solutions.
