SARVAM AI
Anthropic ban: Sarvam AI's Pratyush Kumar warns against reliance on foreign models
A US ban on advanced AI models has highlighted the vulnerability of foreign reliance, according to Sarvam AI's Pratyush Kumar. He urged Indian firms to embrace sovereign AI, building systems domestically. For AI researchers and engineers, he said the ban sets a precedent in which talent will increasingly be seen as aligned to national interests rather than the companies.
America's shutdown of Anthropic's AI models is not a surprise. And India has seen it coming for 30 years
The US government's export control order on Anthropic's advanced AI models, blocking non-American nationals, highlights a long-standing Indian pattern of adopting foreign technology without developing indigenous alternatives. This "kill switch" event underscores the vulnerability of nations dependent on foreign tech infrastructure, urging India to prioritize strategic autonomy and build its own AI capabilities.
20 foundational AI models created under IndiaAI Mission, 5 released : MeitY secretary
IndiaAI Mission has fostered the creation of 20 foundational artificial intelligence models. Five of these models have now been released. Avataar AI has launched Varya, the first homegrown distilled video generation model. This technology significantly speeds up video creation and reduces costs. The government is actively supporting the development of these crucial AI tools.
Minority affairs ministry plans major AI rollout
The minority affairs ministry is integrating artificial intelligence into its services. AI chatbots and voice solutions will soon support citizens in multiple languages. These advancements aim to streamline applications, improve Hajj pilgrim support, and boost employment for minority youth.
IT needs selectivity, not blind bargain hunting; Energy, defence and healthcare offer better opportunities: Gurmeet Chadha
Market expert Gurmeet Chadha advises investors to be selective in the IT sector, despite attractive valuations, focusing on stock-specific opportunities. He highlights stronger growth visibility in energy, defence, healthcare, and capital market plays, while suggesting midcap IT firms are better positioned for AI monetization.
Vanguard slashes Ola value; War chokes PCB supply
American investor Vanguard has sharply cut the fair value of Ola's parent company. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
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PM Modi’s high stakes push for sovereign AI faces reality check
India is striving to build its own artificial intelligence capabilities, aiming for self-reliance and global export. However, the nation faces significant challenges including underinvestment in computing power and a late start in advanced AI model development. This ambition is crucial for technological independence as global powers leverage AI for geopolitical advantage.
The world is becoming training data for AI, for which everyone is unprotected
Pronto, a home services startup, is facing criticism for using body-camera footage from workers inside customers’ homes to train AI and robotics systems. The company says customers can opt in for discounts, but critics argue the real business is collecting valuable in-home data for humanoid robots.
From financial services to healthcare, enterprises driving AI adoption in India are all in Mumbai: TEAM
On the eve of Mumbai Tech Week, Sharad Sanghi of Neysa AI, Aakrit Vaish of Activate, and Naiyya Saggi of EDT spoke with ETtech editor Samidha Sharma about data centres, India’s AI investment gap, and building a startup ecosystem in the city.
Peak XV, Activate in talks to invest in Silicon Valley AI dictation startup Wispr Flow
Founded by Stanford graduates Tanay Kothari and Sahaj Garg, Wispr Flow develops a voice dictation tool that allows users to speak into apps and workflows instead of typing. The latest funding is likely to nearly triple its valuation to $2 billion, per people in the know.
Nvidia may lead AI startup Simplismart’s $20 million fundraise at $100 million valuation
Chipmaking giant Nvidia is reportedly in advanced talks to lead a $20 million funding round for Simplismart, valuing the AI infrastructure startup at approximately $100 million. Earlier this year, Simplismart said its AI inference platform would be made available on Nvidia infrastructure as the startup expanded its enterprise AI offerings.
Why Sarvam's Vivek Raghavan calls ‘data in motion’ the most valuable asset for AI startups
Sarvam AI cofounder Vivek Raghavan highlighted "data in motion"—user interaction data with AI systems—as the most valuable asset for AI companies. This real-world usage data, generated during product development and operation, offers a significant competitive edge.
Sarvam AI and Pixxel’s collaboration to build satellites that think before they transmit data
Sarvam AI and Pixxel are collaborating on Pathfinder, India’s first orbital AI system that processes satellite data in space.The mission uses onboard intelligence to turn raw imagery into actionable insights before sending it to Earth. It aims to speed up decisions in areas like disaster response, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
Lightspeed eyes new India fund, plans smaller corpus of $300–350 million amid AI focus
The venture capital firm, which was initially looking to raise as much as $500 million for its fifth India fund, has now cut the target size to around $300-350 million, the people said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are private.
Groww investors reap bumper returns; Lightspeed’s India rethink
Happy Wednesday! Groww delivered strong gains to early investors after the IPO lock-in expired. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
India cannot afford to be just an AI consumer: Sarvam AI’s Pratyush Kumar
India needs to develop its own large-scale artificial intelligence models. Sarvam AI plans to train a trillion-parameter AI model soon. This move is crucial for India to lead in AI development. Owning foundational AI models will drive economic and technological growth. India must invest in computing infrastructure and research talent.
Paperwork causing AI mission lag as startups flag funding, IP concerns
IndiaAI mission startups face delays in formal agreements, impacting non-compute support and raising IP concerns. While compute access is provided, founders report operational hurdles and potential timeline shifts due to pending MoUs. The government is exploring advance payments to mitigate these issues.
Skyroot Aerospace, KreditBee among latest startups to enter unicorn club
India's startup scene is experiencing significant growth. Several new companies have achieved unicorn status, valued at over $1 billion. Skyroot Aerospace, a space-tech firm, and KreditBee, a digital lending platform, are among the latest entrants. This expansion highlights increasing investor interest and digital adoption across various sectors in India.
Early-stage tech draws VC interest across aviation, biotech, precision manufacturing
Investors are prioritising smaller, early-stage deals in deeptech sectors like AI, healthcare, and precision manufacturing, shying away from large commitments. While growth-stage funding remains subdued, several significant rounds are reportedly in the pipeline, signalling a potential shift as the Indian deeptech ecosystem matures.
Premji Invest in talks to join Emergent fundraise
Premji Invest is reportedly in talks for a significant investment in coding platform Emergent's $250 million funding round, which could value the company at $1.5 billion. This potential investment follows a $70 million raise just three months prior.
Premji eyes Emergent bet; Krutrim plans unravel
Happy Wednesday! Premji Invest is circling Emergent, looking to join its latest fundraise at a $1.5 billion valuation. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Pixxel & Sarvam take AI to orbit; Fintechs flock to Gift City
Happy Tuesday! Spacetech startup Pixxel is joining forces with AI company Sarvam to launch an orbital data centre satellite — bringing computing power into space. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Pixxel, Sarvam plan orbital data centre after Agnikul Cosmos-Neev Cloud
Indian space company Pixxel and AI firm Sarvam are collaborating on a groundbreaking orbital data centre satellite. This satellite, named Pathfinder, will process vast amounts of space-based data directly in orbit using advanced AI models. This innovation promises real-time insights for environmental monitoring and resource management, reducing reliance on ground infrastructure and enhancing data sovereignty.
Infosys weighs CEO change; Groww's Lalit Keshre on next growth bets
Happy Wednesday! Infosys is set to discuss CEO Salil Parekh's tenure and a succession roadmap as it reports Q4 results. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Art of AI war: Sarvam to boost defence prowess
India is boosting its defence capabilities with a new Rs 300 crore Centre of Excellence for artificial intelligence. Homegrown labs like Sarvam are in talks with the defence ministry. This initiative aims to develop AI systems tailored for India's unique operational needs. The goal is to reduce reliance on foreign technology and enhance national security.
Razorpay eyes IPO; Sarvam's $1.5 billion leap
Happy Monday! Razorpay is planning an IPO at a lower valuation than its $7.5 billion peak. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Glade Brook in talks to join Sarvam’s funding; AI startup may hit $1.5 billion valuation
US-based Glade Brook Capital is in discussions to invest $20-25 million in Sarvam AI's $320-350 million funding round, valuing the AI startup at $1.5 billion. Strategic investors like Nvidia, Amazon, and HCLTech, alongside venture capital firms, are also participating in the round.
AI startup Sarvam close to raising $300 million at $1.5 billion valuation
India’s homegrown artificial intelligence startup, Sarvam AI, is close to raising $300 million to $350 million as it seeks to build a domestic player that can compete with leaders from the US and China.
Sarvam AI's new vertical 'Chanakya' to address problems of 'national consequence'
In a post on X, the company said it has spent the past year quietly building full-stack AI for `problems of national consequence and complex enterprises,' and is now expanding the effort into a dedicated vertical.
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