Small language models gaining big traction

While large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and Gemini capture global headlines and attract major institutional investment — including from the government, which recently tapped four startups to develop them — a quieter but powerful shift is unfolding in the background. Small language models (SLMs) are rapidly gaining traction in India, driven by their affordability, efficiency, and real-world relevance in resource-constrained environments.