【环时深度】印主权大语言模型评价两极分化，“印度AI使命”进展如何？

Core Insights - The release of India's sovereign large language model Sarvam-M has sparked significant debate, with mixed reviews labeling it both a milestone in AI development and a failure due to low initial download numbers [1][3][4] - India aims to become a global leader in AI, supported by the "India AI Mission" strategy launched in March 2023, which has a budget exceeding 100 billion rupees (approximately 8.4 billion yuan) [7][8] Group 1: AI Development and Challenges - Sarvam-M, developed by Sarvam AI, received praise for its focus on Indian languages and tasks but faced criticism for its low download count of only 334 in the first two days [3][4] - The "India AI Mission" aims to enhance the AI ecosystem through public-private partnerships, but most funding is allocated to infrastructure rather than research and development, with only about $11 million dedicated to R&D [9][10] - India ranks second globally in AI project contributions on GitHub, accounting for 19.9% of contributions, and has a high AI skill adoption rate among professionals [4][5] Group 2: Talent and Employment Impact - India has a significant talent pool, producing approximately 1.5 million STEM graduates annually, but faces a shortage of 213,000 AI professionals [8][12] - The World Economic Forum predicts a 38% "skills disruption" in India due to AI advancements, the highest among BRICS nations, indicating a need for reskilling [10][11] - A majority of Indian professionals recognize the importance of AI skills for career advancement, with 94% believing that mastering these skills will accelerate their professional development [12][13] Group 3: Global Position and Future Outlook - Despite its growing influence, India lags behind the US and China in private AI investment, attracting only $11.29 billion since 2013 compared to the US's $470.9 billion [5][6] - The lack of high-quality, India-specific training data poses a challenge for developing effective AI models, as local languages are underrepresented online [9][10] - The dual nature of AI's impact on India's economy presents both risks and opportunities, with potential job losses in the service sector alongside the need for policy changes to harness AI's benefits [12][13]