Google CEO briefs PM Modi on first-ever Indian AI hub in Visakhapatnam

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has unveiled plans for the company’s first AI hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, heralding it as a “landmark development” during the Bharat AI Shakti event in New Delhi. The ambitious project, backed by a $15 billion investment over the next five years, will establish Google’s largest AI facility outside the United States, featuring gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and sustainable energy infrastructure. Pichai shared the announcement on X after discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing its significance for India’s technological ambitions.

The Visakhapatnam AI hub is poised to transform the city into a global hub for AI innovation, according to Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. “This gigawatt-scale AI hub will house data locally and help power AI-driven solutions across sectors,” Kurian stated, underscoring Google’s commitment to India’s digital growth. The facility aims to serve not only India but also Asia and beyond, leveraging locally integrated data infrastructure to drive advancements in healthcare, agriculture, and other key sectors, while prioritizing sustainability.

The initiative aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, as highlighted by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. “Prime Minister Modi was clear that Google has to come to India for this,” Naidu remarked, likening the project to Microsoft’s earlier establishment in Hyderabad. Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that the investment will bolster India’s AI Mission by fostering skill development and strengthening the digital economy, while also suggesting the Andaman Islands as a strategic location for future undersea cable networks.

Also Read: Google to Invest $10 Billion in 1-Gigawatt Data Center in Andhra Pradesh

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised the collaboration as a testament to “harmony between progressive policymaking and dynamic governance,” positioning India to lead the next wave of technological transformation. Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh emphasized the global implications, stating, “What you see is India at its best... India playing an important role in the global landscape.”

The hub anchors the AI City Vizag initiative, which includes a 1 GW hyperscale data center campus, clean energy integration, and the creation of up to 1.8 lakh jobs, cementing Visakhapatnam’s role in India’s AI-driven future.

Also Read: EU Targets Big Tech Over Apps Hooking Kids: Apple, Google, and Social Media Giants Under Fire