Brains & Bytes Unite: IIT Madras and Ziroh Labs Launch ‘Kompact AI’ and Research Powerhouse

IIT Madras, in collaboration with Ziroh Labs and IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, has set up the Centre of AI Research (CoAIR) to address India's compute accessibility challenges. The initiative aims to democratize AI by enabling the development and deployment of models to be done effectively on CPUs instead of costly GPUs.

 

The newly introduced Kompact AI platform supplements India's "AI for All" policy by optimizing 17 AI models, including DeepSeek and Llama, for CPU-based performance. The innovation makes it possible to utilize AI tools offline, which is ideal for rural areas with inadequate internet coverage.

 

Renowned figures such as Turing Award winner Dr. Whitfield Diffie attended the launch. Director of IIT Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti, pointed out that Kompact AI bridges the AI gap by making low-cost solutions available to impoverished groups. The platform is poised to revolutionize AI access in India and globally.

Source: Indian Express, Hindustan Times, IIT Madras Press Release