Credited from: REUTERS
Google has revealed a significant plan to invest $15 billion to establish an AI hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This initiative marks Google's largest investment in India, with a focus on creating a gigawatt-scale data center that will support advanced AI applications and cloud services, according to Reuters and India Times.
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, emphasized that this facility will be the largest AI hub Google invests in outside of the United States, noting that it will integrate AI infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and an expanded fiber-optic network. This investment is part of a broader strategy to enhance India's capacity for data-intensive services, reports TRT Global and BBC.
The project is anticipated to generate 5,000 to 6,000 direct jobs and as many as 30,000 total jobs through the development of infrastructure including a state-of-the-art Cable Landing Station for international subsea cables, enhancing digital connectivity, according to India Times and India Times.
A formal agreement is expected to be signed shortly, with a significant collaborative effort from local government officials and partners like Airtel and Adani group. This collaboration aims to not only enhance the technological landscape but also to ensure that AI benefits are distributed across various sectors in India, as noted by leaders including Andhra Pradesh's IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to India Times and India Times.