The landscape of voice technology in India is undergoing a transformative shift with the collaboration of Sarvam AI, EkStep Foundation, and AI4Bharat. This partnership has birthed an initiative named “Listen at Scale,” aimed at deploying multilingual voice AI agents across the subcontinent. The objective is clear: to move away from traditional forms of communication like IVR calls and SMS, towards interactive, two-way conversations in local languages.

This innovative program is set to address the digital divide, particularly for those who are often excluded from text-based communication. By leveraging conversational AI that understands and operates in regional dialects, Sarvam seeks to bridge the gap between technology and underserved populations across India. This groundbreaking initiative had a significant impact in just 31 days, engaging approximately 50 lakh unique users across various critical sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and governance.

The multilingual voice AI agents have been deployed to automate essential tasks ranging from beneficiary verification to gathering citizen feedback and resolving grievances. Such automation not only streamlines processes but also enhances the overall efficiency of public service delivery. Part of what makes this initiative remarkable is the collaborative effort involving EkStep Foundation, which provided the necessary platform infrastructure, and AI4Bharat, which undertook analysis and research to gauge the program’s effectiveness.

As a part of their commitment, twenty selected teams received substantial support, including grants totaling Rs 1 crore, and five lakh voice AI minutes per team to develop and deploy their applications. This financial backing, along with infrastructure resources, has positioned these teams to effectively address various needs within their respective communities.

Some notable implementations of the voice AI system have already demonstrated its immense potential. For instance, the National Health Authority utilized the AI solution to communicate with over 14 lakh senior citizens, resulting in a remarkable 42% increase in daily enrollments for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana. This showcases the power of AI in enhancing outreach and engagement among populations that might otherwise remain overlooked.

Additionally, the program has helped profile over 4.14 lakh disabled individuals, generating nearly 51,000 actionable profiles that can direct assistive devices and financial support—illustrating a significant step towards empowerment and inclusion. In tandem with the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, the initiative revealed that a staggering 92.6% of the profiled informal workers lacked prior formal work records, thus highlighting the plight of an “invisible” workforce that often goes unnoticed in traditional assessments.

Beyond worker profiling, the AI-driven evaluations have unveiled inefficiencies inherent in scheme delivery. In Maharashtra, for example, the system flagged inefficiencies or potential middlemen interference in 2.75% of interactions related to scheme deliverables. This level of insight is crucial for policymakers aiming to enhance transparency and effectiveness within social welfare programs.

Moreover, in Odisha, the program confirmed impressive seed receipt rates among farmers, gauging a 77% success rate while identifying a concerning 63% gap in input procurement adoption. Such data-driven insights are pivotal for informing policy corrections and improving agricultural outcomes in the region.

As part of its broader commitment to advancing AI technology, Sarvam has also made strides in supporting the AI community by open-sourcing two reasoning models, Sarvam 30B and Sarvam 105B. This move not only enhances the technical landscape of AI but also fosters collaboration and innovation within the tech ecosystem.

With backing from prominent investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, and Khosla Ventures, the startup is well-positioned for growth. Additionally, support from the government’s IndiaAI Mission signifies a broader commitment to harnessing cutting-edge technologies for national development. Sarvam is currently in the process of raising additional capital to scale its infrastructure further, indicating robust future prospects for its initiatives.

In summary, the partnership between Sarvam AI, EkStep, and AI4Bharat represents a significant leap forward in leveraging multilingual voice AI technology to foster inclusivity and efficiency in public service delivery across India. Through structured conversations in local languages, this initiative not only enhances accessibility but also paves the way for meaningful engagement with traditionally underserved populations, thereby fulfilling a critical need within the rapidly transforming digital landscape.