In a bold move to establish India’s presence in the global artificial intelligence landscape, the Union Ministry is spearheading the development of a ChatGPT-style foundational AI model within the next 10 months. Three homegrown startups, Soket AI Labs, Gnani.ai, and Gan.ai, have been selected to speed up this AI mission.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement, signaling a major push toward self-reliance in advanced AI technologies.
Mission: To Build A Homegrown Large Language Model (LLM)
- Open-source & Custom-built for Indian Needs
This government-backed initiative aims to build a large language model (LLM) specifically for Indian needs. As per the reports, this LLM will be capable of understanding and processing Indian languages, Cultural nuances, and Context specific to India
Unlike global models, this LLM will be open-source and custom-built for Indian needs.
- 18,600 GPUs Secured
India’s AI infrastructure is rapidly scaling up, exceeding initial targets. The country has secured 18,600 GPUs, surpassing the original goal of 10,000. These GPUs include NVIDIA H100, H200 (top-tier AI training chips), and AMD MI325 models.
- Common Computing Facility for AI Development
The government has launched a common computing facility dedicated to AI development. This facility is designed to support startups, developers, and researchers pan-India. It will be equipped with 18,000 GPUs, providing access to high-end computing power. 10,000 GPUs are already operational, with the rest coming online soon.
This initiative will:
- Lower entry barriers for smaller AI players
- Eliminate high infrastructure costs for training AI models
- Encourage broader participation in India’s AI ecosystem
The Startups Behind the Vision
The central government has selected three startups, including Soket AI Labs, Gnani.ai, and Gan.ai. The selection is based on stringent criteria involving AI capabilities, prior research, and scalability of solutions. These startups are expected to collaborate with top academic institutions, data centers, and research organizations.
Meet the 3 AI Giants in IndiaAI Mission:
- Soket AI Labs: 120B Parameter Model
- Gnani.ai: 14B Voice AI Model
- Gan.ai: 70B Multilingual Content Model
Why This Matters
- Multilingual AI: India’s diversity in languages and dialects demands AI systems that go beyond English-first models.
- Sovereignty in AI: A domestic LLM ensures data security, cultural alignment, and strategic independence.
- Startup Ecosystem Boost: This project reinforces India’s commitment to nurturing deep tech startups and AI research.
The 10-month deadline sets an ambitious pace, but the government appears confident in the talent and infrastructure now available in India. If successful, India could join the elite group of nations with sovereign foundational AI models, built with local languages and users at the core.
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