Indian artificial intelligence startup Sarvam AI has launched its Indus chat application for web and mobile users, positioning a domestically-built alternative against global platforms like ChatGPT and Claude. The launch on Friday comes as India emerges as a critical market for generative AI, with OpenAI reporting over 100 million weekly active users for ChatGPT in the country.
The Indus app serves as the public interface for Sarvam's newly announced 105-billion-parameter large language model, Sarvam 105B. The model was unveiled alongside a smaller 30B variant at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi earlier this week, where the Bengaluru-based startup also detailed enterprise partnerships with firms including HMD for Nokia feature phones and Bosch for automotive applications.
App Features and Current Limitations
Currently in beta on iOS, Android, and the web, the Indus app allows users to input queries via typing or voice and receive responses in both text and audio formats. Sign-in is available using a phone number, Google account, or Apple ID, though the service appears geographically restricted to India for now.
The initial release carries significant limitations. Users cannot delete their chat history without deleting their entire account, and there is no option to disable the app's reasoning feature, which the company acknowledges can slow response times. Access is being managed on a waitlist basis as Sarvam scales its computing infrastructure.
"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," Sarvam co-founder Pratyush Kumar stated on social media platform X, requesting user feedback.
Strategic Context and Funding
Founded in 2023, Sarvam AI is part of a growing cohort of Indian startups aiming to create sovereign AI infrastructure tailored for local languages and use cases. The company has raised $41 million in funding from investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, and Khosla Ventures.
The launch intensifies competition in a market where global players are seeing rapid adoption. Anthropic recently reported that India accounts for 5.8% of total usage for its Claude model, second only to the United States.
Future Roadmap and Industry Position
Sarvam's entry signifies a strategic push for greater Indian control over foundational AI technologies. The company's focus on developing large language models specifically for the Indian context, combined with its enterprise hardware and partnership announcements, outlines a comprehensive approach to capturing market share.
The success of Indus will depend on its ability to match the performance and reliability of established global platforms while offering distinct advantages for Indian users, all while navigating the technical and financial challenges of scaling a compute-intensive service.