Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Friday announced a $15-billion investment to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and capabilities in India, saying the country has the potential to become a major global hub for AI.
Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit, Pichai described AI as the most important technological shift of our time and said it can bring large-scale changes in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and scientific research.
A major part of Google’s plan includes building strong digital infrastructure, improving compute capacity and supporting a full-stack AI ecosystem in the country. He also highlighted the need to train students, developers and professionals so that India’s workforce is ready for the AI era.
Pichai said India’s digital public platforms, large pool of tech talent and fast-growing startup ecosystem give it a unique advantage in the global AI race. He praised efforts to develop AI models that work in Indian languages and understand local needs, calling them essential for making the technology useful for millions of people.
At the same time, he cautioned that the benefits of AI will not come automatically. According to him, governments, companies and academic institutions must work together to ensure the technology is developed and used responsibly. He stressed that AI should reduce inequality, not increase it, and must be accessible and affordable to all.
Pichai also pointed to scientific breakthroughs powered by AI, such as AlphaFold, to show how the technology can help solve complex global challenges.
On the sidelines of the event, Pichai was seen tasting Indian GI-tagged coffee, reacting with a cheerful “wow”, a moment that quickly went viral on social media.