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Avataar AI: Building India’s Sovereign Intelligence Infrastructure

Published on February 19, 2026 by Wasim Shaikh

Note: Exclusive coverage from the AI Impact Summit 2026.

As India prepares for Viksit Bharat 2047, the technological discourse is shifting. It’s no longer just about digital connectivity; it’s about Intelligence Infrastructure. In a special segment for the AI Impact Summit 2026, Sravanth Aluru, CEO of Avataar AI, sat down with anchor Bhavana Nair to discuss how AI is being democratized as a "civic capability" for every Indian citizen.

From Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to Intelligence Infrastructure

India has already proved its global leadership with the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model—most notably through Aadhaar and UPI. Sravanth Aluru argues that the next ten years will be defined by an "Intelligence Infrastructure" that acts as a multiplier effect for the national GDP.

"India’s real opportunity is that we view AI not just as a capability, but as a civic capability," Sravanth explained. This means moving beyond the "plumbing" of data and compute to unlocking real-world impact for ordinary citizens, from farmers to small business owners.

This vision aligns with the builder mindset that is currently driving India's startup ecosystem, focusing on solving local problems with global-scale solutions.

The UAI: Unified AI Interface for the Common Man

One of the most exciting takeaways from the summit is the concept of the Unified AI Interface (UAI). Much like UPI simplified payments, UAI seeks to simplify complex AI interactions.

Consider the example of a farmer:

The Problem: Deciding when to sow seeds based on volatile weather and groundwater levels.
The AI Solution: A farmer can speak to an app in their native language (e.g., Gujarati). The AI uses predictions from ISRO satellites, checks groundwater data, and provides actionable advice: "This is not the right time; sow this other seed instead for better yield."

This democratized approach ensures that AI isn't just a high-end tool for corporations but a practical assistant for every citizen. This mirrors the work being done by labs like Soket AI in building multilingual foundational models.

The "AI + Human" Superhuman Paradigm

Addressing the common fear that AI will replace jobs, Sravanth offers a more realistic and optimistic outlook: the AI plus Human era.

"AI plus human will make the human brain superhuman," Sravanth noted. In this future, humans stay in the loop for mission-critical tasks and creative ingenuity, while AI handles repetitive, body-challenging, and now brain-challenging tasks. This requires an open-minded upskilling journey, much like how professionals are already leveraging ChatGPT for architecture and other complex domains.

Sovereignty and Affordability: The Rise of SLMs

A significant challenge for the Global South is the cost of AI. Western models often come with steep subscription fees (e.g., $200/month for pro accounts), which are prohibitive for the average Indian worker.

To counter this, the IndiaAI Mission is focusing on Small Language Models (SLMs). These models offer ISRO-style efficiency—delivering high performance at a fraction of the cost. By building "Use-case Capital," India is ensuring that AI remains:

Open: Models and application layers built by India for India.
Affordable: Accessible to those who need it most.
Trustworthy: Highlighting the importance of "Trust thereafter Data and Intelligence."

Conclusion: A Human-Centric AI Ecosystem

As India takes the lead in the Global South’s AI discourse, Avataar AI and Sravanth Aluru are at the forefront of demonstrating that technology can be human-centric and safe. The goal is to move beyond chatbots to specialized, sector-specific applications that drive 10x productivity for SMEs and enterprises.

The AI Impact Summit 2026 is not just a meeting of minds; it is the launchpad for a sovereign, intelligent, and inclusive India.