VISAKHAPATNAM (India CSR): In a landmark move set to redefine India’s technology landscape, Google has announced a $15 billion investment to establish its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub and data centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh — its largest outside the United States.
The announcement was made at Google’s “Bharat AI Shakti” event in New Delhi, where Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed that the hub will integrate gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new subsea internet gateway, and green energy infrastructure to accelerate India’s AI innovation ecosystem.
The AI hub will serve as a strategic pillar for India’s digital economy, supporting enterprises, startups, and public sector projects with cutting-edge AI capabilities and localized cloud solutions.
Sundar Pichai Discusses Project with PM Modi
Following the announcement, Pichai shared that he had personally spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Google’s plans and their shared vision for India’s AI future.
“Great to speak with India PM @narendramodi to share our plans for the first-ever Google AI hub in Visakhapatnam. This landmark development combines gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and large-scale energy infrastructure,” Pichai posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Through it, we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country,” he added.
Responding to Pichai’s post, PM Modi welcomed the investment, calling it a “powerful step toward building a Viksit Bharat” (Developed India).
“Delighted by the launch of the Google AI Hub in the dynamic city of Visakhapatnam. This multi-faceted investment aligns with our vision to democratize technology and ensure AI for All,” the Prime Minister wrote.
“It will boost India’s digital economy and secure our place as a global technology leader.”
Google’s Largest AI Investment Outside the US
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, emphasized that the Visakhapatnam hub would be Google’s largest AI facility outside the United States, underscoring the company’s growing commitment to India as both a market and an innovation hub.
“We are incredibly proud of what today stands for. Google has been in India for 21 years, employing over 14,000 people across five locations,” Kurian said.
“We already have cloud regions in New Delhi and Mumbai, and this new AI hub in Andhra Pradesh will expand our global infrastructure while serving India’s growing AI community.”
Kurian revealed that the Visakhapatnam facility will use Google’s proprietary TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) — custom-designed AI chips that deliver twice the power efficiency of conventional systems. The centre will provide a “full-stack” AI infrastructure, supporting both Google’s internal models and those of Indian developers, including generative AI platforms like Gemini, Imagine, and Veo.
Building India’s AI Backbone
The new AI hub is expected to strengthen India’s sovereign AI capabilities by hosting sensitive data locally, in compliance with national data protection frameworks.
Kurian explained that the facility will be designed to support not just Google’s operations but also entrepreneurs, research institutions, and Indian enterprises looking to deploy AI solutions at scale.
“The hub will democratize access to AI infrastructure, allowing Indian innovators to train and deploy their models securely,” he said.
“It’s built to serve as a foundation for both commercial and public-sector AI initiatives in healthcare, education, agriculture, and climate resilience.”
AI development requires massive computing power, and this investment will position India as one of the few nations capable of hosting gigawatt-scale AI data centres, capable of linking tens of thousands of processors to handle complex workloads.
Strategic Partnerships with Indian Companies
The project is being developed in collaboration with Indian conglomerates Adani Group and Bharti Airtel, both of which are playing key roles in building the energy and network infrastructure required for the hub.
Adani Group will contribute renewable energy solutions to ensure the centre runs on clean power, while Airtel will partner on the construction of a new international subsea gateway, connecting India to major global internet routes and enhancing digital connectivity.
These partnerships reflect Google’s effort to embed its global AI operations within India’s local ecosystem, promoting sustainable growth and inclusive development.
A Boost for Andhra Pradesh and India’s AI Vision
The investment is expected to create over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region, transforming Visakhapatnam into a global AI innovation corridor.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy welcomed the announcement, saying it would reinforce the state’s reputation as a technology-forward and investor-friendly destination.
The project aligns with India’s “AI for All” mission, which aims to make artificial intelligence a driver of social inclusion and economic development. It will also complement government initiatives such as IndiaAI Mission, Digital India, and Make in India, which are fostering a robust domestic technology ecosystem.
Google’s Global AI Strategy and India’s Role
Google’s $15 billion commitment to India forms part of its global $85 billion infrastructure expansion plan for 2025, as major technology firms race to scale up their AI and data-processing capacity.
The company has identified India as one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies, with rapid adoption of cloud services, fintech innovations, and AI-led solutions across industries.
“This investment signals Google’s confidence in India’s technology ecosystem,” said Thomas Kurian.
“Our AI hub in Visakhapatnam is not just a data centre — it’s the foundation for the next decade of innovation, jobs, and digital transformation in India.”(India CSR)
