Google has announced a significant investment of $15 billion in India over the next five years, with plans to establish a massive data centre and artificial intelligence hub in the country. According to Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, this will be the largest AI hub outside of the US. The investment is a response to the growing demand for AI tools and solutions in India, which is expected to have over 900 million internet users by the end of the year.
The proposed data centre, to be located in Visakhapatnam, a port city in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, will have a gigawatt-scale capacity and will serve as a digital backbone connecting different parts of India. This project is part of a larger trend of growth in the data centre industry, driven by the need to store and process vast amounts of digital data and to support energy-intensive AI applications.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the investment, stating that it will help boost the country’s digital economy and secure its position as a global technology leader. Google chief Sundar Pichai has also spoken to Modi about the project, describing it as a landmark development that will bring industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, driving growth and innovation across the country.
The investment has been praised by Indian officials, including Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who thanked Google for its commitment to India’s digital infrastructure. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has also expressed his support for the project, calling it a significant step forward for the state’s technology sector.
This announcement is part of a series of investments by top American AI firms in India, including US startup Anthropic and OpenAI, which have both announced plans to expand into the country. The move is seen as a recognition of India’s growing importance in the global technology landscape, with its large and rapidly growing internet user base and its potential for innovation and growth in the AI sector.
As India continues to develop its digital infrastructure, investments like Google’s $15 billion commitment are likely to play a significant role in shaping the country’s technology sector and its position in the global economy. With its focus on AI and data centres, this investment is expected to have a lasting impact on India’s digital landscape and its ability to compete in the global technology industry.