GUWAHATI: India is making a significant stride in artificial intelligence by developing its own foundational large language model (LLM), signalling a move towards self-reliance in AI technology. Unlike other nations that experienced a “DeepSeek moment” as a wake-up call, India has proactively charted its course to reduce dependence on global AI giants such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and emerging players like DeepSeek R1.
ALSO READ: Bus Crashes Into Auto-Rickshaw Killing One, Injuring Three Others In Assam’s Dhupdhara
Announced by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, this initiative aims to create an AI system tailored to India's diverse linguistic and cultural landscape. Essentially, it’s a chatbot akin to ChatGPT but uniquely designed for Indian users, ensuring a model that understands regional languages and local needs while being free from external biases.
To achieve this, India is setting up a state-of-the-art AI infrastructure, including a facility equipped with 18,000 GPUs—crucial for training advanced AI models. The goal is to have this facility operational within the year, with an ambitious target of building the indigenous LLM in just ten months.
The move comes at a time when global discussions on AI development costs and efficiency are intensifying. While companies like OpenAI and Google continue heavy investments in AI, DeepSeek’s ability to make advancements despite US sanctions restricting GPU access has raised questions about alternative, more efficient AI development strategies.
India’s AI push extends beyond just model creation. Plans include establishing AI data centres in Odisha, emphasising data security and local innovation. By investing in homegrown AI, India aims to bolster privacy protections, enhance support for regional languages, and gain strategic control over AI applications within the country.