Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced on Tuesday that he discussed plans with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the US tech giant’s new artificial intelligence hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh—marking Google’s biggest-ever investment in India.
The project, in partnership with the Adani Group, will house a massive data centre and AI base, making it Google’s largest AI hub outside the United States. The company has committed $15 billion to India over the next five years.
Calling the initiative a “landmark development,” Pichai highlighted that the hub will combine gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and extensive energy infrastructure. He added that the facility will accelerate AI innovation and provide advanced technological tools to enterprises and users across India.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his delight at the launch of the hub in Visakhapatnam, describing the city as “dynamic” and praising the project as a multi-faceted investment that aligns with India’s vision of a developed nation. In a post on X, Modi said the hub will democratize technology, expand AI access to citizens, boost the digital economy, and strengthen India’s position as a global technology leader.
Google stated that the initiative aligns with the Indian government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, aimed at accelerating AI-driven services. The company emphasized that the hub will create significant economic and societal opportunities for both India and the United States while advancing generational AI capabilities.
At the formal agreement-signing event in Delhi, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian called the hub a “landmark investment in India’s digital future.” He added that the facility will enable businesses to innovate faster and foster inclusive growth, reflecting Google’s commitment to responsible AI deployment and societal impact.
The event was attended by Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Ashwini Vaishnaw, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and state IT Minister Nara Lokesh. Vaishnaw expressed gratitude for the investment, noting that the digital infrastructure will support India’s AI vision and provide opportunities for youth to develop AI skills.
Naidu described the investment as a “new chapter” in India’s digital transformation journey, emphasizing that hosting India’s first gigawatt-scale data centre and Google’s first AI hub in the country underscores the state’s commitment to innovation and long-term support for businesses and startups.
The announcement comes amid intensifying competition among global tech giants. Microsoft and Amazon have already invested billions in Indian data centres, responding to the country’s rapidly growing internet base, projected to exceed 900 million users by the end of this year.
NDTV has reported extensively on Google’s investment, noting its potential to reshape India’s digital economy and AI capabilities.
