A pivotal step towards AI for every Indian unfolded at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where PM Narendra Modi observed Sarvam AI’s impressive demo on an HMD Nokia feature phone. HMD India’s partnership with the homegrown startup promises to embed sophisticated personal AI into affordable devices, targeting the hundreds of millions beyond the smartphone ecosystem.
The live showcase featured offline real-time speech recognition, translation across 10 Indian languages, and text-to-speech—all powered by on-device processing. This innovation eliminates internet barriers, vital for underserved regions.
HMD India APAC VP and CEO Ravi Kunwar called it a landmark achievement. ‘Showcasing indigenous AI before the PM underscores our mission to democratize intelligence,’ he said. Aligned with the mantra ‘Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya,’ the collaboration furthers public good through tech.
Upcoming launches of AI-equipped feature phones will enable voice-driven management of daily life: queries in local dialects, seamless service access, and productivity boosts. Backed by IndiaAI Mission, Sarvam tailors solutions to India’s multilingual fabric.
This move cements India’s role as an AI frontrunner, pioneering inclusive models that could inspire the world. By extending AI to feature phone users, it narrows the digital chasm, empowering the masses for a smarter, connected future.