Big Tech developer Microsoft is extending its reach in Asia with its artificial intelligence (AI) products through a new partnership with the Indian startup Sarvam AI. 

According to a blog post from Microsoft on Feb. 8, it plans to bring Sarvam’s Indic voice large language model (LLM) to its Azure AI infrastructure. Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI and Machine Learning services will be leveraged by Sarvam to host its LLMs, while accelerating their training and scaling.

It says the development is a part of its commitment to “enabling AI-driven growth and innovation in India.”

Puneet Chandok, the president of Microsoft India and South Asia, said the company aims to support India in becoming an “AI-first nation.”

“...we are not just supporting homegrown innovation – we are fostering a future where every individual, regardless of their language or background, can benefit from the power of voice-driven AI solutions.”

The LLM built by Sarvam targets inputs in Indic languages and “context” which would essentially allow for the development and deployment of generative-AI applications to be more precise and “cost-effective” in India. 

Source