Google's $15 Billion Investment in Indian AI Hub Marks Significant Expansion

Google to invest $15B in Indian AI infrastructure hub | TechCrunch

Google is making a $15 billion investment to set up a 1-gigawatt data center and AI hub in India, even as the Indian government pushes for reduced reliance on U.S. tech giants. On Tuesday, Google said it would build the data center in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, in the port city of Visakhapatnam. The investment will take place over the next five years through 2030, the company added. Notably, this marks Google's largest investment in India and comes five years after it first announced a $10 billion commitment to the South Asian nation in 2020. Weeks after President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports in August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began urging the use of "swadeshi" (Hindi for "made in India") products. In response, Indian lawmakers and ministries started promoting local alternatives to Google -- including those from Chennai-based enterprise tech firm Zoho Corporation, which offers competitors to Google Cloud and Gmail, and most recently, WhatsApp-rival Arattai, as well as MapMyIndia, a Google Maps-rival. While the initial impact has been limited, these moves could pose a real political threat to the future of companies Google and Microsoft in India. Google has 14,000 employees in India, and has operated in the country for 21 years. The company also counts Delhi and Mumbai as official cloud regions. The new Google AI hub will be the company's largest investment outside of the U.S., said Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, adding that it would be scaled to "multiple gigawatts" over time. "It is part of a global network of AI centers in 12 different countries," Kurian said at the launch of the AI hub in New Delhi. "In addition to that, we're also pleased to announce that we will be making Vishakhapatnam a global connectivity hub." Google also announced plans to bring its subsea cable infrastructure to Visakhapatnam. The U.S. tech giant has partnered with Indian telecom provider Bharti Airtel to build both the data center and the cable landing station in the city. Further, Google has teamed up with Adani Group-backed AdaniConneX to set up the infrastructure for the data center. "We see it not just becoming a landing station for a large number of cables, but also providing a digital backbone connecting different parts of India together," Kurian said. Google said the AI hub will offer a "full stack of solutions," including its custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to enable local AI processing. The Mountain View-based company will also provide access to its AI models -- including Gemini -- and its platform for building agents and applications. The hub will additionally support consumer services such as Google Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Google Ads. "We see this hub not just serving India but from India serving Asia and other parts of the world," Kurian said. Google's choice of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh is not surprising. The southern state, under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has previously attracted global tech firms like Oracle and Microsoft to set up hubs in Hyderabad, which was Andhra Pradesh's capital before the creation of Telangana. Naidu, a key political ally who supported Prime Minister Modi's return to power in the last general election, has since played a prominent role in shaping national policy discussions. "This AI hub will be a very important contribution to the [India] AI mission goals in different ways," said Indian IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The minister urged Google to consider India's Andaman Islands as the next major hub for global internet data transfer, noting that Singapore "is all choked," and assured the company of full government support. He also proposed linking Visakhapatnam with Sittwe, a city in Myanmar, to improve connectivity in India's northeastern states.

Google announces $15B investment in AI hub in India meant to drive digital transformation

NEW DELHI (AP) -- Google announced on Tuesday that it will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years to establish its first artificial intelligence hub in the country. Located in the southern city of Visakhapatnam, the hub will be one of Google's largest globally. It will feature gigawatt-scale data center operations, extensive energy infrastructure and an expanded fiber-optic network, the company said in a statement. The investment underscores Google's growing reliance on India as a key technology and talent base in the global race for AI dominance. For India, it brings in high-value infrastructure and foreign investment at a scale that can accelerate its digital transformation ambitions. Google said its AI hub investment will include construction of a new international subsea gateway that would connect to the company's more than 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometers) of existing terrestrial and subsea cables. "The initiative creates substantial economic and societal opportunities for both India and the United States, while pioneering a generational shift in AI capability," the company's statement said. Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the company's ambitious plans. "Through it (the hub), we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country," Pichai said on the social media platform X. Modi said the multi-faceted investment aligns with India's vision to build a developed country. "It will be a powerful force in democratizing technology. It will also ensure AI for all, delivering cutting-edge tools to our citizens, boosting our digital economy and securing India's place as a global technology leader," he said. Business conglomerate Adani Group said in a statement it had partnered with Google for developing the hub.

Google to build a $15bn AI data hub in India

The announcement comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has been asking American companies to prioritise domestic investment. India has emerged as a key destination for AI data centres. The country's low data costs and rapidly growing internet user base have made it a hub for cloud and AI expansion for tech giants. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said the facility "will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country". A formal agreement to finalise the project will be signed on Tuesday, the Andhra Pradesh government said. "It is a massive leap for our state's digital future, innovation, and global standing," said the state's technology minister Nara Lokesh. The project will combine cloud and AI infrastructure with renewable energy systems and an expanded fibre-optic network. The project is part of the Andhra Pradesh government's plan to develop 6GW of data centre capacity by 2029, according to Bloomberg News. Data centres are physical facilities that house the computing and networking equipment that organisations use to collect, process, store, and distribute data. They contain servers, storage systems and network equipment like routers and firewalls, along with the necessary power and cooling systems to operate them. In Andhra Pradesh, the government has been offering subsidised land and electricity to attract global investors. India's data centre industry has grown rapidly over the past five years, crossing the 1GW capacity mark in 2024 and nearly tripling its 2019 level, according to global professional service firm JLL's India Data Centre Market Dynamics 2024 report.

Our First AI Hub in India, Powered by a $15 Billion Investment

India is experiencing a digital transformation that is unparalleled in pace and scale. At Google Cloud, we are deeply committed to being a foundational partner in this journey, working alongside the Indian government and industry leaders to realize the vision of a truly AI-first nation. Today, we are announcing a landmark commitment: our largest investment in India to date, totaling approximately $15 billion (USD) over the next five years (2026-2030). This capital will establish our first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in the country, located in the vibrant city of Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh.

Google to invest $15 bn in India, build largest AI hub outside US

New Delhi (AFP) - Google said Tuesday it will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years, as it announced a giant data centre and artificial intelligence base in the country. "It is the largest AI hub that we are investing in anywhere outside of the US," Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said at a ceremony in New Delhi. Demand for AI tools and solutions is surging among businesses and individuals in India, which is projected to have more than 900 million internet users by year's end. Kurian announced "capital investment of $15 billion" over the five years and a "gigawatt-scale AI hub in Visakhapatnam", a port city in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh. Google plans for the centre to scale to multiple gigawatts, he added, comparing the project to "a digital backbone connecting different parts of India together". Globally, data centres are an area of phenomenal growth, fuelled by the need to store massive amounts of digital data, and to train and run energy-intensive AI tools. Google chief Sundar Pichai said on X that he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the "landmark development". "This hub combines gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and large-scale energy infrastructure," he wrote. "Through it we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country." 'Data is the new oil' India's Information Technology Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, thanked Google for the investment. "This digital infrastructure will go a long way in meeting the goals of our India AI vision," he said. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu called it a "very happy day". The state's Technology Minister Nara Lokesh said on X that the deal followed "a year of intense discussions and relentless effort". Lokesh, speaking at the announcement, said that "data is the new oil and data centres are the new refineries". "This is about India playing an important role on the global landscape," he added. Recently top American AI firms looking to court users in the world's fifth-largest economy have made a flurry of announcements about expanding into the country. This month US startup Anthropic said it plans to open an office in India next year, with its chief executive Dario Amodei meeting Prime Minister Modi. Modi, in a post on X, told Amodei that "India's vibrant tech ecosystem and talented youth are driving AI innovation", adding that he wanted to "harness AI for growth". OpenAI has said it will open an India office later this year, with its chief Sam Altman noting that ChatGPT usage in the country had grown fourfold over the past year. AI firm Perplexity also announced a major partnership in July with Indian telecom giant Airtel, offering the company's 360 million customers a free one-year Perplexity Pro subscription.

Google to Invest $15 Billion in AI Data Centre Hub in Andhra Pradesh | AIM

The 1-gigawatt facility will be located in the port city of Visakhapatnam. Google announced on Tuesday in an event in New Delhi that it will invest $15 billion over the next five years to establish a major AI data centre hub in Andhra Pradesh. The 1-gigawatt facility will be located in the port city of Visakhapatnam and is described by Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian as the largest AI hub the company is investing in outside the US. Earlier state officials had estimated the investment at $10 billion. The project comes amid rising competition among global tech giants to expand AI infrastructure. Google alone is expected to spend roughly $85 billion this year on building out data centre capacity to meet soaring demand for AI services, which require massive computing power and specialised facilities to link thousands of chips in clusters. Microsoft and Amazon have already made substantial investments in Indian data centres, tapping into a market with nearly a billion internet users. Amazon intends to spend $12.7 billion developing cloud infrastructure in South Asia by 2030, while OpenAI is planning a 1-gigawatt data centre in the region. Google's new facility will be the largest in both capacity and investment in Asia, and forms part of a broader multi-billion-dollar expansion of the company's data centre network across the region, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Google announces $15B investment in AI hub meant to drive digital transformation

NEW DELHI -- NEW DELHI (AP) -- Google announced on Tuesday that it will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years to establish its first artificial intelligence hub in the country. Located in the southern city of Visakhapatnam, the hub will be one of Google's largest globally. It will feature gigawatt-scale data center operations, extensive energy infrastructure and an expanded fiber-optic network, the company said in a statement. The investment underscores Google's growing reliance on India as a key technology and talent base in the global race for AI dominance. For India, it brings in high-value infrastructure and foreign investment at a scale that can accelerate its digital transformation ambitions. Google said its AI hub investment will include construction of a new international subsea gateway that would connect to the company's more than 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometers) of existing terrestrial and subsea cables. "The initiative creates substantial economic and societal opportunities for both India and the United States, while pioneering a generational shift in AI capability," the company's statement said. Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the company's ambitious plans. "Through it (the hub), we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country," Pichai said on the social media platform X. Modi said the multi-faceted investment aligns with India's vision to build a developed country. "It will be a powerful force in democratizing technology. It will also ensure AI for all, delivering cutting-edge tools to our citizens, boosting our digital economy and securing India's place as a global technology leader," he said. Business conglomerate Adani Group said in a statement it had partnered with Google for developing the hub.

Google announces $15B investment in AI hub in India meant to drive digital transformation

NEW DELHI (AP) -- Google announced on Tuesday that it will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years to establish its first artificial intelligence hub in the country. Located in the southern city of Visakhapatnam, the hub will be one of Google's largest globally. It will feature gigawatt-scale data center operations, extensive energy infrastructure and an expanded fiber-optic network, the company said in a statement. The investment underscores Google's growing reliance on India as a key technology and talent base in the global race for AI dominance. For India, it brings in high-value infrastructure and foreign investment at a scale that can accelerate its digital transformation ambitions. Google said its AI hub investment will include construction of a new international subsea gateway that would connect to the company's more than 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometers) of existing terrestrial and subsea cables. "The initiative creates substantial economic and societal opportunities for both India and the United States, while pioneering a generational shift in AI capability," the company's statement said. Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the company's ambitious plans. "Through it (the hub), we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country," Pichai said on the social media platform X. Modi said the multi-faceted investment aligns with India's vision to build a developed country. "It will be a powerful force in democratizing technology. It will also ensure AI for all, delivering cutting-edge tools to our citizens, boosting our digital economy and securing India's place as a global technology leader," he said. Business conglomerate Adani Group said in a statement it had partnered with Google for developing the hub.

Google Announces $15B Investment in AI Hub in India Meant to Drive Digital Transformation

NEW DELHI (AP) -- Google announced on Tuesday that it will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years to establish its first artificial intelligence hub in the country. Located in the southern city of Visakhapatnam, the hub will be one of Google's largest globally. It will feature gigawatt-scale data center operations, extensive energy infrastructure and an expanded fiber-optic network, the company said in a statement. The investment underscores Google's growing reliance on India as a key technology and talent base in the global race for AI dominance. For India, it brings in high-value infrastructure and foreign investment at a scale that can accelerate its digital transformation ambitions. Google said its AI hub investment will include construction of a new international subsea gateway that would connect to the company's more than 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometers) of existing terrestrial and subsea cables. "The initiative creates substantial economic and societal opportunities for both India and the United States, while pioneering a generational shift in AI capability," the company's statement said. Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the company's ambitious plans. "Through it (the hub), we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country," Pichai said on the social media platform X. Modi said the multi-faceted investment aligns with India's vision to build a developed country. "It will be a powerful force in democratizing technology. It will also ensure AI for all, delivering cutting-edge tools to our citizens, boosting our digital economy and securing India's place as a global technology leader," he said. Business conglomerate Adani Group said in a statement it had partnered with Google for developing the hub.

Google readies $15 billion war chest for Andhra AI hub: all you need to know

The project will be built with an investment of $15 billion spread over five years, till 2030. The facility will have an initial capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW), which will be scaled to "multiple gigawatts", said Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. Google, along with Bharti Airtel and Adani Enterprises, will build an AI hub in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam. The campus will be the tech major's largest such facility outside the US. The project will be built with an investment of $15 billion spread over five years, till 2030. The facility will have an initial capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW), which will be scaled to "multiple gigawatts", said Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. The investment comes to India -- a key growth market with a billion internet users -- as AI compute demand grows rapidly. India has seen multiple AI infrastructure commitments from global majors like OpenAI and Microsoft, as well as domestic players like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Reliance Industries. Here's what you need to know about the upcoming Google facility and recent developments in the Indian AI infrastructure space: The Google AI hub The hub will be supported by Google's new international subsea cables, while Airtel will lay down an intra and inter-city fibre network. The data campus' energy needs would be met with green power. It will see co-investments from Google & Adani Connex in new transmission lines, clean energy generation, and innovative energy storage systems. Andhra doubles down Andhra Pradesh is doubling down on building AI infrastructure, aiming to roll out 6GW in three years. Apart from the 1 GW deal with Google, the state has one for 500 MW with Sify, and is talking to four other companies to achieve its target. "Our estimates are that 1 GW of data centre capacity means the creation of 2,00,000 direct and indirect jobs," said state IT and electronics minister Nara Lokesh. More AI infra commitments Several companies from India and abroad -- OpenAI, Microsoft, Reliance Industries, and others -- have expressed interest in developing data centres in India. * OpenAI is scouting local partners to expand its Stargate AI infrastructure project to India. * Microsoft has announced a $3 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure. * At its last AGM in August, Reliance Industries announced the formation of Reliance Intelligence, to house large-scale AI infrastructure in the country. * Adani Enterprises has signed a deal with the Maharashtra government for 1 GW AI capacity. * TCS has announced plans to invest up to $7 billion in a 1 GW data centre.

Adani, Airtel Partner with Google to Set Up India's First AI Hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Enhances AI capabilities, digital inclusivity, and national infrastructure for the AI-driven era. Adani Enterprises, through its joint venture company AdaniConneX, and Indian telecom operator Bharti Airtel have entered into a strategic partnership with Google to establish India's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in a move aimed at accelerating AI adoption and strengthening the nation's digital infrastructure. "This landmark initiative will accelerate the adoption of AI across India, strengthen the country's digital backbone and bring Google's full AI-stack and consumer services closer to Indian businesses," Airtel said in an exchange filing on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Google's AI hub in Visakhapatnam is a multi-faceted investment of approximately USD 15 billion over five years (2026-2030). It will include gigawatt-scale data center operations powered by clean energy, supported by an extensive subsea network to handle demanding AI workloads in India. The project will be executed in collaboration with ecosystem partners, including Airtel and AdaniConneX. As part of the partnership, Airtel and Google will jointly set up a purpose-built data center and a state-of-the-art Cable Landing Station (CLS) to host Google's new international subsea cables, integrating with its global terrestrial and subsea infrastructure. Airtel said it will also create a robust intra-city and inter-city fibre network as part of this project to ensure high-capacity, low-latency connectivity. The enhanced network will improve digital experiences for users, bolster India's digital backbone, and support inclusive digital transformation across the country, bringing the benefits of AI to more people and businesses nationwide. "The project also builds on both companies' commitment to sustainability, and will see co-investment in new transmission lines, clean energy generation and innovative energy storage systems in Andhra Pradesh. This will not only support the data centre's operations but also enhance the resilience and capacity of India's electricity grid," Adani Enterprises said in an exchange filing on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, announcing its partnership with Google. Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, described the partnership as a defining moment in India's digital future. "By combining world-class AI infrastructure with our nation's extraordinary talent and also expanding global connectivity, we are laying the foundation for India to become a leader in the AI-driven era. With Visakhapatnam becoming a new hub on the world's AI map, we are ensuring that India has the opportunity to set the pace for innovation, digital inclusion and economic growth -- not just for our people, but for the world," he said. "The Adani Group is proud to partner with Google on this historic project that will define the future of India's digital landscape," said Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, "This is more than just an investment in infrastructure. It is an investment in the soul of a rising nation. This partnership is a testament to our shared vision of nation-building and our commitment to empowering every Indian with the tools of the 21st century. Visakhapatnam is now set to become a global destination for technology, and we are thrilled to be the architects of this monumental journey." "This facility will house the TPU and GPU-based compute power required for deep learning, neural network training, and large-scale AI model inference and create an ecosystem that accelerates AI-driven solutions for India's most critical sectors - from healthcare and agriculture to logistics and finance. We are honoured to be building the engine to power India's AI revolution, providing the tools for our nation's brightest minds to solve complex challenges," Gautam Adani shared in a post on X on Tuesday. Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, highlighted the importance of robust infrastructure and connectivity for India's AI ambitions. "Meeting the demands of India's AI Mission requires cutting-edge infrastructure, computational power and ubiquitous connectivity. Working with Airtel, we will deliver next-generation AI services and create the essential digital backbone required to power inclusive growth across India," he said. "Working with Adani, we will bring our cutting-edge resources closer to communities and customers alike, and offer them the performance, security, and scalability to innovate and thrive on a global stage," Kurian said. In a separate announcement, Google said, "The new AI hub will combine powerful AI infrastructure, data center capacity, new large-scale energy sources and an expanded fiber-optic network, all in one place." This investment of approximately USD 15 billion over five years (2026-2030) is Google's largest investment in India to date and aligns with the Indian Government's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision to accelerate the expansion of AI-driven services. Google noted that, according to an analysis conducted by Access Partnership and commissioned by Google, the AI hub is expected to generate at least USD 15 billion (USD) over five years (2026-2030) in American gross domestic product (GDP) because of new economic activity from increased cloud and AI adoption, as well as the American talent and resources involved in developing and operating the AI hub. This initiative creates substantial economic and societal opportunities for both India and the United States, while pioneering a generational shift in AI capability. Adani noted that the development of this AI hub and connectivity gateway will create a powerful engine for economic growth in Visakhapatnam, the state of Andhra Pradesh, and thereafter the entire nation by driving digital inclusivity and creating tens of thousands of jobs in technology, construction and clean energy. Ashwini Vaishnaw, IT Minister, Government of India: "I would like to thank Google for making this announcement of USD 15 billion dollars. This digital infrastructure will go a long way in meeting the goals of our India AI mission. I would also like to thank the Honorable Prime Minister for giving us this vision of using technology in every walk of life. I would like the industry to help re-skill and upskill our IT professionals in a major way, and thank Google for making this a major part of their agenda. AI services are emerging as a totally new category in our digital economy, and we look forward to this new facility being used for developing our youth for AI services." N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: "This significant investment in Andhra Pradesh marks a new chapter in India's digital transformation journey. We are proud to host India's first truly gigawatt-scale data center and Google's first AI hub in India, which is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation, AI adoption, and long-term support for businesses and startups in the state." When operational, the new data center campus will join Google's network of existing AI data centers that spans 12 countries. It will benefit from technology developed by Google's R&D centers in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, including the design and development of crucial software and hardware innovations, Google said. Google's AI hub investment includes the construction of a new international subsea gateway, including multiple international subsea cables to land in Visakhapatnam on India's eastern coast -- connecting to Google's existing terrestrial and subsea cables. The announcement was made at Bharat AI Shakti, an event hosted by Google in partnership with the Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh in New Delhi, as a pre-event to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026. Key attendees included Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India; Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Government of India; N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh; Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, RTG and HRD, Government of Andhra Pradesh; and Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. AdaniConneX, a 50:50 JV (Joint Venture) between Adani Enterprises and EdgeConneX, was founded with a vision to redefine the data center landscape in India. AdaniConneX envisions to build an environmentally and socially conscious 1GW data center infrastructure platform by leveraging the complementary capacity of the Adani Group, India's largest infrastructure player, and EdgeConneX, one of the largest private data center operators, the official release said.

Airtel Partners with Google to Launch $15B AI Hub and Data Center in India

Google's AI hub in Visakhapatnam is a multi-faceted investment of approximately $15 billion (USD) over five years (2026-2030) comprising gigawatt-scale data center operations, supported by a robust subsea network and clean energy, to drive the most demanding AI workloads in India. It will be brought to life in close collaboration with ecosystem partners including Airtel and AdaniConneX. Airtel and Google will jointly establish the purpose-built data center in Visakhapatnam, as well as a state-of-the-art Cable Landing Station (CLS) to host Google's new international subsea cables that will join its extensive global terrestrial and subsea infrastructure. Airtel will also create a robust intra-city as well as inter-city fibre network as a part of this project. This high-capacity, low-latency network will deliver faster experiences to Google users and customers; increase the resilience and capacity of India's digital backbone; as well as drive digital inclusivity and transformation across India, bringing the benefits of AI to more people and businesses nationwide.

Google to invest $15 billion in AI data centre in biggest India investment - The Economic Times

Google will invest $15 billion over five years to set up an artificial intelligence data centre in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh, a company official said on Tuesday, for its biggest ever investment in the world's most populous nation. Google has committed to spending some $85 billion this year to build out data centre capacity as big tech companies spend heavily on building new data centre infrastructure as they compete to fill booming demand for AI services. "It's the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world outside of the United States," Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said at a New Delhi event, adding that investment will be spread over the next five years. "It is a part of a global network of AI centres in 12 different countries." The data centre campus in the port city of Visakhapatnam will have a capacity of 1-Gigawatt initially, but will be scaled to "multiple gigawatts", Kurian added. Earlier, state officials had estimated the investment at $10 billion for the centre, which the state government has said is expected to generate 188,000 jobs. Microsoft and Amazon have already poured billions into building data centres in India, a key growth market, in which nearly a billion users access the internet. Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani have also unveiled investments in building capacity for data centres. AI requires enormous computing power, pushing demand for specialised data centers enabling tech companies to link thousands of chips together in clusters. Google parent Alphabet Inc counts India as a key growth market where its YouTube video services has most users, and Android phones dominate smartphone usage. However, the U.S. giant has been battling many antitrust challenges in India over its business practices, and also faces a lawsuit from a Bollywood couple challenging YouTube's AI policy

Google announces $15 bil. investment in AI hub in India meant to drive digital transformation - The Korea Times

NEW DELHI -- Google announced on Tuesday that it will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years to establish its first artificial intelligence hub in the country. Located in the southern city of Visakhapatnam, the hub will be one of Google's largest globally. It will feature gigawatt-scale data center operations, extensive energy infrastructure and an expanded fiber-optic network, the company said in a statement. The investment underscores Google's growing reliance on India as a key technology and talent base in the global race for AI dominance. For India, it brings in high-value infrastructure and foreign investment at a scale that can accelerate its digital transformation ambitions. Google said its AI hub investment will include construction of a new international subsea gateway that would connect to the company's more than 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometers) of existing terrestrial and subsea cables. "The initiative creates substantial economic and societal opportunities for both India and the United States, while pioneering a generational shift in AI capability," the company's statement said. Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the company's ambitious plans. "Through it (the hub), we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country," Pichai said on the social media platform X. Modi said the multi-faceted investment aligns with India's vision to build a developed country. "It will be a powerful force in democratizing technology. It will also ensure AI for all, delivering cutting-edge tools to our citizens, boosting our digital economy and securing India's place as a global technology leader," he said. Business conglomerate Adani Group said in a statement it had partnered with Google for developing the hub.

Google says to invest $15 billion in AI data centre capacity in India's Andhra

BENGALURU (Reuters) -Google will invest $15 billion over the next five years to set up data centre capacity for an artificial intelligence hub in India's Andhra Pradesh, the company said on Tuesday, marking one of its biggest ever investments in the country. "It's the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world outside of the U.S.," Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said at a New Delhi event. The 1-gigawatt data centre campus by the Alphabet Inc unit will be based in the port city of Visakhapatnam. Officials from the southern Indian state earlier put the investment at $10 billion. The move comes amid intensifying competition among big tech companies, which are spending heavily on building new data centre infrastructure to meet booming demand for AI services. Google alone has committed to spending some $85 billion this year to build out data centre capacity. AI requires enormous computing power, pushing demand for specialized data centers that enable tech companies to link thousands of chips together in clusters. Microsoft and Amazon have already poured billions into building data centres in India, a key growth market for the global tech giants where nearly a billion users access the internet. Reuters first reported about Google's plans in July. The search giant's data centre will be the largest in capacity and investment size in Asia, and is part of a multi-billion-dollar expansion of its data centre portfolio across the region in countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, Reuters reported at the time. "In an era where data is the new oil, such initiatives will serve as a strategic advantage," state IT Minister Nara Lokesh said. (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru and Sarita Chaganti Singh in New Delhi; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Lincoln Feast.)

Google to invest $15 billion in India for new AI hub and data center, PM Modi hails CEO Sundar Pichai's announcement

Supports India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision with clean energy, AI innovation, and tech democratization. Google has announced a $15 billion investment over the next five years to set up its first AI hub in India, located in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh. The announcement was made during Google's flagship Bharat AI Shakti event in New Delhi, hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as fully aligned with India's "Viksit Bharat" vision. The company will set up a 1-gigawatt AI data centre campus in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, which the tech giant says will be its largest artificial intelligence hub outside the United States. Partnering with the Adani Group, Google's new data centre will combine advanced AI infrastructure, large-scale renewable energy solutions, and an expanded fibre-optic network to strengthen India's digital backbone. The move marks Google's single most significant investment in the country. "This is the largest AI hub we're investing in anywhere in the world outside the US," said Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "The new AI hub brings gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and large-scale energy infrastructure. Through it, we'll bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country." The project aligns closely with the government's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, India's roadmap to becoming a developed nation by its 100th year of independence. Google says its Visakhapatnam campus will empower both large enterprises and innovative startups by providing access to high-performance, low-latency computing capabilities essential for developing and scaling next-generation AI solutions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, hailed the announcement, calling it a "powerful step toward democratizing technology." He said, "Delighted by the launch of the Google AI Hub in the dynamic city of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This multi-faceted investment that includes gigawatt-scale data centre infrastructure aligns with our vision to build a Viksit Bharat. "It will deliver cutting-edge tools to citizens, boost our digital economy, and secure India's place as a global technology leader."