Sundar Pichai defends AI spending as Google commits $175-185B, calls it biggest platform shift

Google CEO Sundar Pichai says AI spending still makes sense as bubble fears mount | Fortune

As the world's top technology executives converged on India's AI Impact Summit this week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai pushed back on growing concerns around whether the tech industry's massive AI spending spree can ever pay off. "These are such leverage investments and drive so much growth and value," Pichai said in a briefing at the summit on Wednesday, adding that the current AI buildout is moving "10 times faster" than prior industrial revolutions. "I believe this is a transformational moment like that," he said. Pichai pointed to surging Google Cloud demand as evidence that returns are already materializing. "The investment makes sense given the economy we are seeing and the opportunities we see," he said. The comments come weeks after Alphabet revealed it plans to spend between $175 billion and $185 billion in capital expenditure in 2026. Pichai also announced a fresh round of investments in India at the Summit. In terms of infrastructure, the company unveiled a new America-India Connect Initiative -- fiber-optic routes linking the U.S., India, and locations across the Southern Hemisphere -- that builds on a previous $15 billion AI infrastructure commitment. For research, Google launched a $30 million AI for Science Impact Challenge to fund researchers globally using AI to drive scientific breakthroughs. The company also announced a new partnership between Google DeepMind and the Indian government to extend access to frontier models for science and education. Pichai said that India was not just a market to be served but a co-builder of what comes next. "India is going to be a full-stack player in AI," he said, adding he expected "every sector, every workflow, to be transformed" by the tech. The five-day India AI Impact Summit, which kicked off Monday, featured OpenAI's Sam Altman, Anthropic's Dario Amodei, and Meta's Alexandr Wang alongside political leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron. More than 20 heads of state and representatives from over 60 countries were expected to attend. The gathering has also become an opportunity for AI companies to emphasize their presence in India. Anthropic announced this week that India has become the second-largest market for its Claude platform, while Altman wrote in the Times of India that the country now accounts for 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users, making it OpenAI's second-largest user base after the U.S. Underpinning it all is a Modi government push for a "global AI commons" -- a shared repository of AI tools focused on education, health and agriculture -- a move that reflects a broader anxiety that frontier AI development remains too concentrated in the hands of a few American companies.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai enjoys Bharat GI coffee at AI summit

Google CEO Sundar Pichai hailed AI as the "biggest platform shift of our lifetimes" at the India AI Impact Summit, envisioning "hyper progress" for emerging economies. He highlighted AI's role in scientific breakthroughs like AlphaFold and Google's significant investments in India, including a coastal AI hub. Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai on Thursday dropped by a modest Coffee Board stall at the Commerce Ministry pavilion at the India AI Impact Summit, even as he told global leaders that artificial intelligence is the "biggest platform shift of our lifetimes" and a driver of "hyper progress" that could help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps. The summit, which began on Monday, has brought together hundreds of global leaders, technologists and policymakers as India pushes for wider access to AI. At a corner of the summit floor, Pichai paused for a cup of Bharat GI coffee. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal captured the moment in a social media post, saying, "When @SundarPichai drops by for a sip, you know it's truly worth it! The world is raising a cup to Bharat GI Coffee at #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026," highlighting the Coffee Board's push to promote quality, productivity and exports of Indian coffee. The Coffee Board's work centres on improving production and promoting exports of the commodity, and the cameo visit gave the stall unexpected global visibility. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pichai set the tone for the summit's core theme -- how AI can reshape the world. He said, "No technology has me dreaming bigger than AI. It is the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes. We are on the cusp of hyper progress and new discoveries that can help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps," urging governments and industry to act boldly and responsibly together. He cautioned that AI's benefits are not automatic and require collaboration to ensure they reach everyone. Pichai pointed to AI-driven scientific advances, especially AlphaFold, Google DeepMind's protein-folding breakthrough, which he said is used by "over three million researchers in more than 190 countries to develop malaria vaccines." He added that the tool has compressed decades of research into an open database and that Google is cataloguing DNA disease markers and building AI agents that can act as research partners. These developments, he suggested, show how AI can move beyond apps and into deep scientific discovery. Pichai also underlined Google's growing investments in India, including a full-stack AI hub in Visakhapatnam as part of a $15 billion infrastructure investment. He said, "When finished, this hub will house gigawatt-scale compute and a new international subsea cable gateway, bringing jobs and the benefits of cutting-edge AI to people and businesses across India," adding that the company is also building subsea optic cables, including four new systems between the United States and India. Reflecting on his visit, he said, "It is wonderful to be back in India. Every time I visit, I am struck by the pace of change and today is no different." On the future of work, Pichai said, "AI will undeniably reshape the workforce -- automating some roles, evolving others and creating entirely new careers," noting that Google's plan to train 100 million people in digital skills is meant to help workers adapt to AI-driven changes. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed global leaders at the event. The summit has drawn more than 500 AI leaders, including 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 senior technology executives. More than 20 heads of state and government and around 60 ministers and vice ministers are attending, signalling growing global coordination around AI's future. (Inputs from agencies) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

Sundar Pichai Justified Big Investments Amid Bubble Narrative, Google CEO Highlights AI As Ticket To Future Growth: 'We Are Seeing The Opportunities' - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) CEO Sundar Pichai has acknowledged concerns about an AI bubble but said that the company's investments in AI are strategic and justified by technological progress. Pichai On AI Investments And The Bubble Debate Speaking Wednesday evening at a media event ahead of his keynote speech at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Pichai joked about trying to "avoid this question" on the AI bubble but quickly underscored the transformative potential of AI. He compared the current AI revolution to an industrial revolution, "but 10 times faster and 10 times larger," stressing that investments in AI infrastructure and innovation are essential to capture long-term growth. "We live in a truly global world... [these] investments make sense given the progress in the technology we are seeing and the opportunities on top of it," Pichai said. He highlighted that Google's AI work underpins multiple businesses, from Search and YouTube to Cloud and experimental projects like Waymo and Isomorphic Labs, illustrating how foundational AI is to future growth. Demis Hassabis On AGI And The Human Role DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis addressed the ongoing debate around artificial general intelligence. He described AGI as a long-term goal, stating that today's AI tools are enhancements to human expertise rather than replacements. He stressed the potential of AI to tackle global challenges in medicine, climate and inequality, while cautioning that technical and economic risks must be managed responsibly. James Manyika On Jobs, Skills And AI James Manyika, SVP of Research, Labs, Technology & Society at Google, highlighted the impact of AI on employment. He urged governments and organizations to focus on upskilling, task-based workforce planning, and innovation-driven growth. "Investing in skills and literacy and so forth, I think, is foundationally important," Manyika said. He noted that understanding AI's effect on specific tasks, not just jobs, is key to preparing a young workforce for the evolving labor market. During the event, Google also announced a $15 billion plan to boost AI development in India. Price Action: Alphabet Class A shares gained 0.43% during Wednesday's regular session while Class C shares were up 0.37%, according to Benzinga Pro. GOOG ranks high for Quality in Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings and shows steady medium- and long-term price trends, despite experiencing short-term headwinds. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo Courtesy: MNAphotography on Shutterstock.com Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Outcome of AI neither guarenteed, nor automatic: Google CEO Sundar Pichai

Highlighting AI's transformative potential, Pichai said during his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit how deep scientific breakthroughs are being accelerated by advances in machine learning. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the world must come together to pursue artificial intelligence (AI) boldly and responsibly, as the technology's positive outcomes will not be automatic. "No technology has me dreaming bigger than AI. It is the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes. We are on the cusp of hyper progress and new discoveries that can help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps. But that outcome is neither guaranteed nor automatic," Pichai said during his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. "We can't allow digital divide to be AI divide, that means investing in computing infrastructure and connectivity," Pichai said. He added that AI will undeniably reshape the workforce. Highlighting AI's transformative potential, Pichai pointed to how deep scientific breakthroughs are being accelerated by advances in machine learning. "For 50 years, predicting protein structures was a grand challenge, a blind spot that stalled drug discovery. Demis Hassabis and his team at Google DeepMind asked an audacious question -- how could we use AI to solve this? That question led to AlphaFold," he said. "This breakthrough didn't just win global recognition, it compressed decades of research into a database that is now open to the world. Today, over 3 million researchers in more than 190 countries are using it to develop malaria vaccines, fight antibiotic resistance, and much more," Pichai added. Pichai also said it is remarkable to see Visakhapatnam, where Google has made a major investment, transform into a major centre for AI as part of Google's long-term investment in India. "I remember Vizag being a quiet and modest coastal city brimming with potential. Now in that same city, Google is establishing a full-stack AI hub, part of our $15 billion infrastructure investment in India. When finished, this hub will house gigawatt-scale compute and a new international subsea cable gateway, bringing jobs and cutting-edge AI to people and businesses across India. Sitting on the train, I never imagined Vizag becoming a global AI hub," he said.

Cannot allow the digital divide to become an AI divide: Sundar Pichai, CEO Google

Delhi: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai says, "Last Summer, for the first time, the Indian government sent AI-powered forecasts to millions of farmers, possible in part because of our Neural GCM model. I see language inclusion as another exciting ambition. In Ghana, we are collaborating with universities and NGOs to expand research and open source tools across more than 20 African languages. We need this bold thinking in more places to tackle more problems across health, education, economic opportunity, and more. Technology brings incredible benefits, but we must ensure everyone has access to them..."

AI Impact Summit 2026: Sundar Pichai Backs $15B AI Investment to Build India's Next Global Tech Hub

From AlphaFold to Monsoon Forecasts, Sundar Pichai Says AI Can Lift Billions as India Builds Core Infrastructure Artificial intelligence is the main focus at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, shared a strong and hopeful message. He said no technology makes him dream bigger than AI. He called AI the biggest shift of this generation. Pichai recalled that as a student, he often traveled by train across India, and that Visakhapatnam was a quick stop on his journey. Today, the same city has become a major AI hub, with planning to invest $15 billion to build a full-stack AI hub.

Google CEO defends massive AI spends as essential foundation for long-term value, growth

Amid global fears of an AI bubble, Google CEO Sundar Pichai defended the massive spending around Artificial Intelligence, likening tech infrastructure being built to the historical expansion of railroads and highways, which became essential foundations for long-term economic value and growth. Fielding questions on how CEOs can overcome boardroom scepticism regarding AI returns, Pichai urged a long-term view, calling the current era an 'extraordinary' and 'transformational' moment. "I think we are investing to meet that moment. In some of the contexts Dennis (CEO of Google DeepMind) has spoken about, this is the industrial revolution, but 10 times faster and 10 times larger," Pichai said at a media event held on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit. Drawing parallels with foundational infrastructure bets such as the US railroad expansion and the National Highway System, the Google CEO said such leveraged investments historically unlocked massive growth and long-term value, and AI should be viewed through a similar lens. "At Google, I think we're fortunate that we've been focused on this technology for over a decade. And be it search, YouTube, the cloud, the emerging businesses like Waymo and Isomorphic Labs (both subsidiaries of Alphabet), I think they're all getting better and growing based on this one technology underneath, so we can generate a return there," he said. Citing an example, he said, for 'cloud' alone, in the last year, the backlog has doubled year-on-year to $240 million, which reflects the potential for demand and potential returns. "And so we are investing to meet that demand. And you know, that's what makes this an exciting moment. So I think, the investment makes sense given the progress in the technology we are seeing, and the opportunities we see on top of it," Pichai asserted. The comment assumes significance as Alphabet expects 2026 capex to be about $175 billion to $185 billion; anything at the higher end of that range would make it more than double the company's last year's capex tab. The tech industry is currently navigating a high-stakes debate where staggering capital expenditure, like Alphabet's USD 185 billion commitment for this year, collides with intensifying fears of an 'AI bubble'.

5 things Sundar Pichai said at India AI Impact Summit keynote

Speaking at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Google CEO Sundar Pichai delivered a keynote that framed artificial intelligence as the most transformative technology of our era. Addressing world leaders and industry pioneers, Pichai combined personal nostalgia with a bold roadmap for the future, emphasizing that the current "platform shift" offers a unique opportunity for nations like India to leapfrog traditional development gaps. His remarks centered on the dual necessity of pursuing AI with ambitious curiosity while maintaining a rigorous commitment to responsibility and global inclusion. Also read: You can't fool investors: Gnani.ai co-founder warns entrepreneurs taking shortcuts at India AI Impact Summit Sundar Pichai opened his remarks by reflecting on his personal history, recalling his days as a student traveling through Visakhapatnam on the Coromandel Express. He contrasted those memories of a quiet coastal city with Google's current commitment to establish a full-stack AI hub there as part of a massive fifteen billion dollar infrastructure investment in India. This project is designed to house gigawatt-scale compute and a new international subsea cable gateway, signaling a shift where regional Indian cities become the backbone of global technological advancement and job creation. "I remember Vizag being a quiet and modest coastal city brimming with potential. Now in that same city, Google is establishing a full-stack AI hub... Sitting on the train, I never imagined Vizag becoming a global AI hub." Pichai characterized the current era of artificial intelligence not just as an incremental improvement in software, but as a fundamental "platform shift" that surpasses previous technological milestones. He expressed a vision of "hyperprogress" where AI serves as a tool to help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps that have historically slowed development. By comparing the potential of AI to the evolution of autonomous vehicles and space-bound data centers, he emphasized that this technology allows humanity to dream on a scale that was previously unimaginable. "No technology has me dreaming bigger than AI. It is the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes. We are on the cusp of hyperprogress and new discoveries that can help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps." Also read: Sam Altman at India AI Impact Summit 2026: 5 key highlights A major portion of the keynote focused on the "bold" application of AI in the scientific community, specifically highlighting the success of Google DeepMind's AlphaFold. Pichai explained how this technology solved a fifty-year-old challenge in predicting protein structures, effectively compressing decades of traditional research into a searchable database. He noted that this breakthrough is now a cornerstone for three million researchers globally who are using it to develop malaria vaccines and combat antibiotic resistance, proving that AI's greatest value lies in solving the "hardest problems in science." "This breakthrough didn't just win global recognition [a Nobel Prize], it compressed decades of research into a database that is now open to the world... researchers in more than 190 countries are using it to develop malaria vaccines, fight antibiotic resistance, and much more." The CEO addressed the socio-economic risks of the AI era, stating that the benefits of the technology must be accessible to everyone rather than being concentrated in a few regions. To support this, he detailed Google's America-India Connect Initiative, which includes building four new subsea fiber optic cables to strengthen the digital bridge between the two nations. Pichai argued that responsibility in the AI age requires a dual focus on physical infrastructure and human capital, ensuring that the global south is not left behind as the technology evolves. "We can't allow the digital divide to become an AI divide. That means investing in computing infrastructure and connectivity... trust is the bedrock of adoption." In discussing the future of labor, Pichai acknowledged that AI will undeniably automate some roles, but he remained optimistic about its ability to create entirely new industries. He drew a parallel to the rise of YouTube creators - a career that did not exist twenty years ago but now supports millions of people - to illustrate how AI will evolve the professional landscape. To prepare for this shift, he highlighted Google's commitment to large-scale training initiatives, including a new AI Professional Certificate designed to help workers globally master these tools within their current and future jobs. "AI will undeniably reshape the workforce, automating some roles, evolving others and creating entirely new careers. Twenty years ago, the concept of a professional 'YouTube Creator' didn't exist; today, there are upwards of 60 million around the world."