From Microsoft to Startups: Why This Indian Employee Went from Fear to Fame—You Won’t Believe What Changed!

Sarvam AI has made waves in the artificial intelligence landscape following its impressive presentation at the India AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi. Among the many stories emerging from this event, Harveen Singh Chadha's experience stands out. An LLM Researcher at Sarvam AI, Chadha revealed a significant shift in his parents' perception of his career choice. Initially skeptical when he left a stable position at Microsoft to join the burgeoning startup in April 2025, his parents are now beaming with pride over their son's decision.

“Ten months back, my parents were not happy when I left MS. Today when I reached, they were smiling,” Chadha shared in a post on X. He noted that his parents have even taken to saving articles and news features about Sarvam, actively promoting the company in their social circles. His father has been showcasing news segments, while his mother has been spreading the word to neighbors and friends on WhatsApp.

Founded in 2023, Sarvam AI is headquartered in Bengaluru and specializes in developing large language models (LLMs) as well as multimodal AI systems. At the recent summit, the company unveiled its own AI model, specifically tailored for Indian users. This voice-first service is designed to support nearly two dozen Indian languages—a crucial feature in a nation with a population of 1.45 billion, many of whom are not proficient in English.

Chadha's post resonated with many, drawing supportive reactions from users who emphasized the importance of developing technology that caters to local needs. One user remarked, “Build from India. Build for world. We are having the opportunity to leapfrog generations of gaps,” reflecting a collective sense of pride and ambition among the Indian tech community. Another added, “There is something special about seeing doubt turn into quiet support,” highlighting the emotional nuances of family dynamics in the face of career transitions.

The Vision Behind Sarvam AI

At the India AI Summit, Vivek Raghavan, co-founder of Sarvam AI, articulated a broader vision for indigenous technology development. He emphasized that prioritizing self-sufficient technology is vital for national interests. “Many of these technologies were proprietary technologies, and we built this kind of self-created technology that is open source and a public infrastructure that is available to all of us,” Raghavan explained. He referenced the India Stack, an assemblage of APIs that facilitate digital public infrastructure, underscoring the importance of sovereignty in technological advancements.

This focus on local context and language accessibility sets Sarvam AI apart from many global competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. With India being a linguistically diverse country, the introduction of AI tools that can communicate in regional languages is not just a technological advancement; it's a step towards inclusivity.

Overall, Sarvam AI's trajectory reflects a compelling narrative about the potential of technology to reshape lives and communities. The company is not merely developing tools; it is fostering a sense of national pride and collaboration in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. As Harveen Singh Chadha's story illustrates, the impact of this work extends beyond innovation—it resonates on a personal level, transforming skepticism into support while fueling aspirations for a more inclusive future.