India has taken a significant leap in artificial intelligence with the launch of Param-1, the nation’s first large language model (LLM) developed entirely from scratch. Introduced by BharatGen, a government-backed AI initiative, Param-1 is a 2.9 billion parameter bilingual model designed to cater to India’s diverse linguistic landscape.
Built from Scratch with Indian Context
Param-1 stands out for its foundation built entirely from scratch, incorporating 25% Indic data—a stark contrast to models like Meta’s LLaMA, which typically include only 0.01% Indic data. This substantial inclusion ensures that the model is deeply rooted in India’s linguistic and cultural nuances, making it more effective for applications tailored to the Indian context.
Empowering Developers through AIKosha
Developers can access and fine-tune Param-1 via AIKosha, the AI innovation repository by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This platform enables the creation of diverse applications, including Indic chatbots, India-specific copilots, and knowledge systems, fostering innovation across the nation. Analytics India Magazine
Advancing Speech Technology
Alongside Param-1, BharatGen has released 20 new speech models covering 19 Indian language variations. Notably, the A2TTS-v0.5 models offer speaker-adaptive text-to-speech capabilities, allowing developers to generate speech that matches a provided speaker’s voice in languages such as Marathi, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Kannada, Punjabi, Telugu, and Malayalam.
A Collaborative National Effort
BharatGen is a collaborative initiative involving institutions like IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Madras, among others. Supported by the Department of Science and Technology under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), the project aims to develop AI technologies that are inclusive and representative of India’s diverse population.
Conclusion
The launch of Param-1 marks a significant milestone in India’s AI journey, providing a robust, culturally aware foundation for developing applications that resonate with the Indian populace. As BharatGen continues to foster innovation, Param-1 is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI in India.
