How cheap AI voice bots have suddenly flooded the Indian teleservices market

Tech leaders from major companies like Google DeepMind, Microsoft, and Meta recently gathered in Bengaluru to witness the unveiling of a groundbreaking product by one of India’s top AI startups, Sarvam AI.

This event marked a significant moment for the Indian teleservice market, as Sarvam AI introduced innovative software that allows businesses to interact with customers through spoken voice rather than just text.

Developed using data from 10 native Indian languages and priced at an affordable one rupee per minute, this technology is poised to transform how the world’s most populous country engages with AI.

**India’s unique challenges
**Since the launch of ChatGPT, India has been striving to keep up with the global AI boom. However, the widespread use of chatbots in the country has been limited due to a lack of data on many Indian languages. While those in big cities can easily type prompts in English, a vast majority of the population lacks the necessary language skills.

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This gap has led to a surge of startups like Sarvam AI, which are now betting on voice bots built with local language data to reach a broader audience. These startups are not only addressing language barriers but also positioning India as a potential leader in the next frontier of generative AI products.

Sarvam AI’s voice bots are designed to handle mixed-language conversations, allowing them to seamlessly switch between languages during interactions. This capability is particularly important in a country as linguistically diverse as India.

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The technology also goes beyond simple interactions, enabling users to perform tasks like setting up appointments and making payments through voice commands. With around 50 clients already on board, including the popular devotional app Sri Mandir, Sarvam AI is quickly gaining traction in the market.

Diverse applications across industries
The impact of AI voice bots is already being felt across various industries in India. Samsung-backed Gnani AI, for instance, manages millions of voice conversations daily for major banks, insurers, and car companies.

Similarly, CoRover AI provides voice bots in 14 Indian languages to the state-owned railway corporation and regional police forces, while Haloocom Technologies offers voice bots in five Indian languages for customer service tasks and job candidate screening.

CoRover’s Ask Disha voice bot, which recently went live for India’s train booking service IRCTC, is a prime example of how these technologies are being implemented. The bot allows users to book train tickets and complete payments entirely through voice commands, showcasing the growing demand for AI agents that can perform complex tasks. CoRover’s CEO, Ankush Sabharwal, emphasizes that voice is the most intuitive way to use technology, highlighting the potential for these bots to revolutionize customer service.

Gnani AI’s offerings include a bot that assists lenders in conversing with potential customers, collecting personal information, and determining loan eligibility. The startup also collaborates with Tata Motors to gather feedback on new car models and sell extended warranties and accessories. These applications demonstrate the versatility of AI voice bots and their potential to streamline processes across different sectors.

From India to the world
While these startups are focused on the Indian market, they are also eyeing international expansion. Gnani AI, for example, has already deployed its voice bots in the US, helping a California-based Harley-Davidson leasing company reach Spanish-speaking customers. This international interest underscores the global potential of AI voice technology, especially in regions with diverse linguistic landscapes.

Despite the optimism surrounding AI voice bots, some concerns remain. Leading AI companies like OpenAI have developed advanced voice generation technology but have been cautious about bringing it to market due to potential issues such as emotional reliance and the risk of impersonation. However, India’s AI startups remain confident, with Gnani AI’s CEO, Ganesh Gopalan, stating that AI tailored for specific use cases, languages, and audiences is more accurate, cost-effective, and less prone to errors.