Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 18: Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, has described India as one of the world’s most promising artificial intelligence ecosystems, asserting that AI is “the biggest platform shift of our lifetime” with the power to transform sectors from healthcare to agriculture.
He said India’s diversity, robust digital public infrastructure and strong language ecosystem provide a solid base for AI-driven innovation. According to him, the country has the potential to serve as a global blueprint for democratising AI and ensuring its benefits reach a wide population.
Emphasising responsible development, Pichai stated that AI systems must prioritise trust, safety and inclusivity. He noted that AI solutions should work across multiple Indian languages and adapt to local contexts to ensure tangible benefits. “Trust grows when technology is transparent, responsible, and grounded in outcomes,” he said, adding that AI must deliver measurable improvements in people’s daily lives.
A major highlight of his address was the announcement of the India-America Connect Initiative, aimed at deploying new subsea cable routes to enhance AI connectivity between the United States, India and countries across the Southern Hemisphere. The project is expected to strengthen India’s digital backbone and enable faster, high-capacity data transfers critical for AI workloads. Pichai said Google has established full-stack connectivity in India and continues to expand advanced AI infrastructure in the country.
He also referred to Google’s earlier proposal of a USD 15 billion AI hub in India, which is expected to include gigawatt-scale compute capacity and an international subsea cable gateway. The investment is likely to generate employment opportunities and further reinforce India’s AI ecosystem with world-class infrastructure, reflecting growing global confidence in the country as a major AI development centre.
Google announced large-scale skilling initiatives to prepare youth for an AI-driven future, including a Google AI Professional Certificate Programme in English and Hindi aimed at students and early-career professionals. The company will collaborate with Karma Yogi Bharat to support over 20 million public servants with AI tools and partner with Atal Tinkering Labs to introduce generative AI tools in 10,000 schools. It also unveiled a USD 30 million AI for Science Impact Challenge to accelerate global research.
Highlighting partnerships with IITs, government bodies and research institutions, Pichai said AI creates the greatest impact when developed alongside institutions that understand local communities. With major infrastructure investments and skilling programmes underway, Google’s renewed commitment points to strong growth prospects for India’s AI landscape in the coming years.