Amid ongoing scrutiny, Puch AI co-founder Siddharth Bhatia clarified that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh government does not involve public funds. The partnership aims to attract investment without using taxpayer money. Bhatia emphasized that the collaboration is structured as a public-private initiative and will progress in phases with external investor support.
The company, Puch AI, has not received any government funding or support, as stated by Bhatia. Instead, citizens will benefit from free AI services in local languages through the platform. The clarification is crucial as the Uttar Pradesh government highlighted that the MoU is non-binding and a preliminary step only.
Addressing reports on the company’s financials, Bhatia refuted claims of Puch AI having a revenue of Rs 42.9 lakh, attributing this misinformation to confusion with another firm. He clarified that Puch AI’s financial details are not public but mentioned that the startup is well-funded and not bootstrapped.
Bhatia explained that Puch AI does not possess its own foundational AI model currently, focusing on infrastructure built using open-source models tailored for Indian users. The company aims to enhance accessibility through platforms like WhatsApp and voice-based interactions, making AI services available to millions of Indians facing language and usability barriers.
