In brief
In a landmark move, Google is set to invest $15 billion to construct an AI data hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This facility will be pivotal in propelling AI innovation in India, complementing the country's growing internet user base and low data costs. The investment will enhance, not just Google's, but India's standing in the global tech landscape.
Google's parent company Alphabet will invest $15bn (£11.29bn) to build an AI data hub in southern India's Andhra Pradesh state.
The facility, which will be set up in the port city of Visakhapatnam, will be part of Google's global network of AI centres spread across 12 countries.
It's the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world, outside of the United States, Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Google Cloud, stated at an event in Delhi on Tuesday, adding that the investment will be spread over the next five years.
This announcement comes amidst US President Donald Trump's call for American companies to prioritize 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 expressed that the new 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 finalize the project is expected to be signed soon, as per the Andhra Pradesh government.
According to the state's technology minister Nara Lokesh, It is a massive leap for our state's digital future, innovation, and global standing.
The project will integrate cloud and AI infrastructure with renewable energy systems and an expanded fibre-optic network.
This initiative aligns with the Andhra Pradesh government's ambitious plan to develop 6GW of data centre capacity by 2029, enhancing data center infrastructure in the region.
