India’s AI landscape is rapidly evolving, with innovative startups like Sarvam AI, Gnani AI, and CoRover AI leading the charge by developing voice-interactive technology that caters to multiple Indian languages. These advancements are set to democratize AI usage, making it more accessible to a broader segment of the population and potentially opening doors to international markets.
Sarvam AI, often referred to as India’s equivalent of OpenAI, recently unveiled groundbreaking software that enables businesses to interact with customers using spoken voice rather than just text. This technology, developed with data from 10 native Indian languages, is priced affordably to capture the market, aiming to reach millions of users. According to Vinod Khosla, a prominent venture capitalist, these voice bots have the potential to impact a billion people, offering a transformative experience for users who might not be fluent in English.
Several Indian startups are already making substantial strides in this domain. Gnani AI, backed by Samsung, handles millions of voice interactions daily for some of India’s largest banks, insurers, and automotive companies. CoRover AI provides voice bots in 14 Indian languages to major clients, including the state-owned railway corporation and regional police forces. Haloocom Technologies has developed a voice bot capable of communicating in five Indian languages to manage customer service tasks and assist in screening job candidates.
Ankush Sabharwal, co-founder and CEO of CoRover, emphasized that voice technology represents the most intuitive way to use AI. For instance, CoRover’s Ask Disha voice bot, recently launched for India’s train booking service, IRCTC, can book train tickets and process payments using voice commands alone. Sabharwal highlighted the need for AI agents in India that can perform tasks, not just provide information.s.
While US-based AI companies like OpenAI have developed advanced voice technology, they have been cautious about its rollout due to concerns about emotional reliance and potential misuse. In contrast, Indian AI startups remain optimistic, with a focus on creating AI solutions tailored to specific languages and cultural contexts, which are more accurate and cost-effective.
As these Indian startups continue to refine their technology, they are also exploring international opportunities, including markets in the Middle East, Japan, and even the United States. Gnani AI, for example, has already deployed its voice bots in Silicon Valley, assisting a California-based Harley-Davidson leasing company in reaching Spanish-speaking customers.