Indian Startups Embrace Affordable AI Voice Bots, Eye Global Expansion

---

#### Indian Startups Lead the Charge in Affordable AI Voice Technology

A wave of innovation is sweeping through India as local startups focus on developing cost-effective AI voice bots tailored to the country's diverse linguistic landscape. Companies such as Sarvam AI, Gnani AI, and CoRover AI are pioneering this field, aiming to make advanced voice interaction accessible to a broader audience across India.

#### Sarvam AI Unveils Revolutionary Voice Bot Technology

Earlier this month, in Bangalore, Sarvam AI—often likened to India’s version of OpenAI—debuted a groundbreaking product designed to revolutionize customer interactions. This new software enables businesses to engage with customers using spoken language, rather than text. The platform supports interactions in ten native Indian languages and is priced at just one rupee per minute, making it highly affordable. Vinod Khosla, a prominent venture capitalist and investor in Sarvam AI, highlighted the technology’s potential to reach up to a billion people.

#### Addressing Language Barriers and Expanding Reach

India’s AI landscape has been evolving rapidly, but traditional chatbots often fall short due to the country's complex linguistic diversity. While urban users might interact with chatbots in English, many in rural areas lack this proficiency. The rise of voice bots designed with local language capabilities aims to bridge this gap, offering more inclusive and accessible AI services.

#### Startups Making Significant Strides

Several startups are already demonstrating the transformative impact of AI voice bots. Samsung-backed Gnani AI handles millions of voice interactions daily for major banks, insurance firms, and automotive companies in India. CoRover AI provides voice bots in 14 Indian languages for clients such as the state-owned railway corporation and regional police forces. Meanwhile, Haloocom Technologies offers a multilingual voice bot for customer service and recruitment.

Ankush Sabharwal, CEO of CoRover, emphasized the intuitive nature of voice technology, noting, “The world went from digital first to mobile first to AI first, but voice is the most intuitive way to use technology.” CoRover’s Ask Disha bot, launched this month, can perform tasks like booking train tickets and processing payments purely through voice commands.

#### Growing Global Ambitions

Indian AI startups are not only focusing on domestic markets but are also exploring opportunities abroad. Gnani AI, for instance, has already expanded to Silicon Valley, assisting a major Harley-Davidson leasing company in reaching Spanish-speaking customers. The potential for these startups to make a global impact is significant, with their tailored solutions addressing specific linguistic and regional needs.

#### Optimism Amid Challenges

Despite some concerns about AI safety and accuracy, Indian startups are optimistic about the future of AI voice technology. “AI made for specific use cases, languages, and audiences is more accurate, less expensive to run, and has vastly reduced hallucinations,” said Ganesh Gopalan, CEO of Gnani AI. As these companies continue to innovate, they are positioning India as a key player in the evolving AI landscape.

---

This story will be updated as these startups advance their technologies and expand their international presence.