Prime Minister Narendra Modi observed a live demonstration of indigenous artificial intelligence technology at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital.
The presentation featured Sarvam AI’s personal assistant operating on Nokia feature phones manufactured by HMD India.
HMD India announced a strategic alliance with Indian start-up Sarvam AI during the summit.
The collaboration seeks to embed Sarvam’s AI assistant into Nokia feature phones and other HMD devices.
The initiative targets millions of users who rely on non-smartphone handsets across India.
Ravi Kunwar, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of HMD India and APAC, described the occasion as a significant milestone.
Kanwar stated that Sarvam demonstrated its home-grown AI capabilities on a feature phone in the presence of the Prime Minister.
Ravi Kunwar said the partnership reflects HMD’s commitment to democratising artificial intelligence.
He emphasised that the company intends to extend intelligent and localised AI experiences beyond smartphone consumers.
Kunwar confirmed that HMD will introduce AI-enabled features across multiple feature phone models in the coming months.
He asserted that this step will advance inclusive access to digital tools for millions of users.
Expanding Inclusive AI Access
A principal highlight of the summit involved a real-time demonstration of Sarvam’s AI assistant on an HMD Nokia feature device.
The system performed live speech recognition, translation and text-to-speech functions in ten Indian languages.
The technology operated seamlessly without internet connectivity. The company underscored that the on-device AI model ensures reliability even in low-connectivity regions.
The initiative aligns with the broader objectives of the IndiaAI Mission.
Developers have designed Sarvam’s platform to reflect India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
By enabling voice-driven services in regional languages, the partnership aims to reduce barriers to digital participation.
Users will access information, organise daily activities and navigate digital services through simple voice commands in their preferred language.
The model supports vernacular engagement and promotes digital literacy among underserved communities.
The summit adopted the theme ‘Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya’, reinforcing the principle of technology serving public welfare.
The collaboration between HMD India and Sarvam AI signals a decisive move towards equitable AI deployment.
Observers view the initiative as a benchmark for inclusive innovation.
The project also strengthens India’s ambition to emerge as a leading global force in responsible artificial intelligence development.
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