'IT Then, AI Now': Chandrababu Naidu Plans To Make Andhra Pradesh India’s Artificial Intelligence Hub

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced an ambitious roadmap to transform the state into a national hub for artificial intelligence, big data, and advanced industries. Speaking exclusively with NDTV’s Vishnu Som, Naidu said that Andhra Pradesh is strategically positioning itself to lead India’s next technology revolution, drawing comparisons to his earlier role in developing Hyderabad into a global IT destination. “I visualised the potential of IT in the 1990s. I told Bill Gates to come to Hyderabad. It was IT then, it is AI now,” Naidu said, referring to Google’s $15 billion plan to build a state-of-the-art data centre and AI hub in Visakhapatnam.

The proposed Google facility will feature gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and a massive clean energy infrastructure network, making it one of the largest digital infrastructure investments in India. Naidu added that Andhra Pradesh’s coastal advantages and focus on renewable energy would help attract global technology firms. He highlighted that the Gates Foundation is already working in partnership with the state government on digital health record systems developed as a proof-of-concept, which could later be adopted globally.

Apart from technology-led investment, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh is focusing heavily on traditional sectors such as metals, steel, and mining. He announced plans to build an integrated “Steel City” designed to create downstream and ancillary industries that will boost employment and manufacturing output. “We will build a Steel City that will integrate downstream and ancillary industries,” he said, noting that global investors have already shown interest in large-scale industrial collaboration.

Also Read: Naidu Seeks Urgent Central Aid as Cyclone Montha Causes ₹6,384 Crore Damage in Andhra Pradesh

On the infrastructure front, the Chief Minister revealed a comprehensive vision to leverage Andhra Pradesh’s 974-kilometre coastline through the development of ports every 60 kilometres. “We are creating arterial infrastructure by linking ports to roads and inland waterways,” Naidu said, calling the initiative key to making Andhra Pradesh the “logistics hub of the east coast.” The long-term goal, he added, is to promote shipbuilding and enhance trade linkages between domestic and foreign markets.

Discussing the progress on the Amaravati capital project, Naidu assured that the construction of key government and private buildings will be completed within the next few years. The city, he said, will be developed as a modern, sustainable capital powered by renewable energy and efficient infrastructure. Naidu also shared that the state’s use of historical weather data, real-time monitoring, and advanced forecasting helped minimize casualties and damage during a recent cyclone — an example of how technology can enhance governance. With a renewed focus on both AI-driven industries and traditional economic sectors, he said Andhra Pradesh is poised to lead India into a new era of digital and industrial growth.

Also Read: Delhi Blast Aftermath: Maximum Vigil in Andhra Pradesh as Police Step Up Security