Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday announced that the tech giant will establish its first-ever AI hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh describing the move as a “landmark development” in strengthening India’s digital and technological infrastructure. The project will feature gigawatt-scale computing, an international subsea internet gateway, and large-scale renewable energy systems.
“Great to speak with Prime Minister @narendramodi and @OfficialINDIAai to share our plans for the first-ever Google AI hub in Visakhapatnam, a landmark development,” Pichai wrote on X.
The announcement came during Bharat AI Shakti, Google’s flagship event in New Delhi, where the company revealed a $15 billion investment plan spread over five years. This will be Google’s largest AI facility outside the United States, signaling a major step in expanding the company’s presence in Asia.
Building a Global AI Innovation Hub
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said the upcoming hub would transform Visakhapatnam into a global center for AI research and applications. “This gigawatt-scale AI facility will localize data storage and drive AI-based innovation across industries,” Kurian said, emphasizing Google’s focus on sustainable, integrated infrastructure that aligns with India’s long-term digital goals.
Boost for Viksit Bharat 2047 Vision
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, addressing the event, noted that the project perfectly fits into the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, India’s roadmap to becoming a developed nation. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured Google came to India for this. We brought Microsoft to Hyderabad earlier now Google is coming to Vizag,” Naidu said.
Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the investment would strengthen India’s AI Mission by expanding digital skills and creating jobs in emerging technologies. He also encouraged Google to explore setting up a similar network hub in the Andaman Islands as part of India’s maritime connectivity vision.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called the collaboration “a reflection of harmony between progressive policymaking and dynamic governance,” saying it reaffirms India’s leadership in the global tech arena.
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh added that this partnership positioned India not just Andhra Pradesh as a central player in the global AI landscape. “This project shows how Centre-State synergy can drive India’s leadership in innovation,” he said.
Foundation of AI City Vizag
The AI hub will serve as the anchor for the government’s AI City Vizag initiative, featuring a 1 GW hyperscale data center campus powered by clean energy. The plan aims to create an integrated AI ecosystem, generate up to 1.8 lakh jobs, and establish Visakhapatnam as the hub of India’s AI-driven future.
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