Google CEO Sundar Pichai called India one of the world’s most promising AI ecosystems, announcing a $15 billion AI hub, new subsea cables under the India-America Connect Initiative, and large-scale skilling programmes.
Sundar Pichai has expressed strong confidence in India’s artificial intelligence potential
New Delhi: Sundar Pichai has expressed strong confidence in India’s artificial intelligence potential, describing the country as one of the most promising AI ecosystems globally. Speaking about the rapid evolution of AI, he called it “the biggest platform shift of our lifetime,” capable of transforming key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and education.
Pichai noted that India’s diversity, digital public infrastructure and multilingual ecosystem create a strong foundation for scalable and inclusive AI innovation. He said India could serve as a global model for democratising AI technologies responsibly.
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Emphasising responsible AI adoption, Pichai said AI systems must prioritise transparency, safety and inclusivity. He highlighted the importance of building AI tools that function seamlessly across Indian languages and adapt to local contexts.
“Trust grows when technology is transparent, responsible and grounded in outcomes,” he said, adding that AI must deliver measurable improvements in everyday life.
A key highlight of the announcement was the launch of the India-America Connect Initiative. The project aims to deploy new subsea cable routes to strengthen digital connectivity between India, the United States and countries across the Southern Hemisphere.
Pichai said enhanced high-speed data transfer capacity will be critical to handling large-scale AI workloads. He added that Google has built full-stack connectivity infrastructure in India and is expanding advanced AI systems in the country.
Pichai also referred to Google’s previously announced USD 15 billion AI hub planned for India. The proposed hub will feature gigawatt-scale compute capacity along with an international subsea cable gateway.
The investment is expected to generate employment opportunities and strengthen India’s AI ecosystem with world-class infrastructure, reinforcing global confidence in India as a technology powerhouse.
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To prepare India’s workforce for an AI-driven future, Google announced large-scale skilling initiatives, including an AI Professional Certificate Programme in English and Hindi for students and early-career professionals.
The company will collaborate with government platforms and institutions, including IITs and Atal Tinkering Labs, to expand access to generative AI tools. Additionally, a USD 30 million AI for Science Impact Challenge has been unveiled to accelerate global research efforts.
With infrastructure expansion and skill development programmes underway, Google’s renewed commitment signals significant momentum for AI growth in India.
