India To Develop Its Own AI LLM Model

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• The Indian government has decided to build a domestic large language model of its own as part of the Rs 10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission.

About

• It aims to build a homegrown AI system that understands India’s unique culture, languages, and needs.
• The foundational model could take anywhere between 4-8 months. 
• The government’s AI compute facility would be “the most affordable” in the world.
• Infrastructure: 
  • The government has selected 10 companies that will supply 18,693 graphics processing units or GPUs.
  • GPUs are high end chips needed to develop machine learning tools that can go into developing a foundational model. GPUs have become essential for more complex tasks, such as large-scale data processing and cryptocurrency mining.
  • The project also includes plans for AI data centres in Odisha.
• The idea is that institutions and researchers use GPUs and bring in innovations.
  • Since these GPUs are available now, students and researchers can make models on a large-scale instead of working in an ad hoc manner.

Large Language Models (LLMs)

• They are a category of foundation models trained to understand and generate human language. 
• These models are built on deep learning techniques allowing them to process and generate text in a coherent, contextually appropriate manner. 
• LLMs are used for various tasks, including text generation, language translation, and summarization.

Significance

• The initiative is a key part of India’s plan to become a leader in AI and reduce reliance on foreign technology. 
• It will ensure that the LLM is  free from any biases and truly reflects the country’s diversity.
• By building its own AI, India can ensure data security, better support for local languages, and greater control over how AI is used in the country.

Source: IE