New Delhi, February 18: Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, emphasized the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for India during a special event held alongside the AI-India Impact Summit. Pichai described AI as "the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes" and expressed confidence that India is poised to chart an extraordinary course with this technology. He also outlined Google's commitment to partnering with India on its AI journey.
"I believe India is on the cusp of an incredible AI-driven future, and Google is eager to be a partner in that journey," Pichai said. "AI is not just a tool, but a revolutionary shift that will tackle global challenges, from healthcare to education. For countries like India, it offers an opportunity to bridge longstanding gaps and create innovative solutions. Google has been investing in AI for over a decade, seeing it as central to advancing our mission to improve lives at scale."
Pichai also unveiled theIndia-America Connectinitiative, aimed at boosting AI connectivity through new subsea cable routes, alongside other Google projects. "Indian users are among the global leaders in voice and visual search. Soon, we will enhanceSearch Lite, our real-time voice and camera tool, to empower users to search in their own language," he shared. "Additionally, the Gemini app, our personal AI assistant, continues to grow rapidly, with India being one of its largest markets. It's now available in 10 Indian languages."
Google’s commitment to India also includes a $15 billion AI hub in Vizag, featuring gigawatt-scale computing infrastructure and a new international subsea cable gateway, which will generate jobs and provide cutting-edge AI benefits to Indian businesses and individuals.
Pichai emphasized that the key to harnessing AI's potential in India lies in the country’s investment in human capital. He announced new skilling programs, including theGoogle AI Professional Certificate, designed to help people gain proficiency in AI. In partnership with Wadhwani AI, Google aims to reach students and early-career professionals across India, with plans to expand to more languages beyond English and Hindi.
Further strengthening India's AI ecosystem, Pichai revealed a strategic collaboration between Google DeepMind and the Indian government under theGlobal National Partnershipsprogram. This will broaden access to advanced AI capabilities, helping address national priorities. Additionally, Google is teaming up withAtal Tinkering Labsto introduce GenAI assistants in over 10,000 schools, reaching 11 million students with a focus on robotics and coding.
Reflecting on India’s growing role in the global AI landscape, Pichai remarked, "India is uniquely positioned to become a full-stack player in AI, excelling in research, technology, and infrastructure. The foundational work being done, including the government's support in diffusing AI across the economy, is setting India up for success."
Pichai also noted the transformative impact AI will have on various sectors. "AI is set to revolutionize industries from education to healthcare. For example, in partnership with AIIMS, we are exploring ways AI can assist doctors by analyzing patient symptoms and generating reports to aid in diagnosis. These are early steps, but they show how AI can radically improve workflows in fields like education, healthcare, and government efficiency."
TheIndia AI Impact Summit 2026is focused on aligning AI advancements with national priorities, including practical deployment, policy coherence, and workforce transformation. The event aims to accelerate the adoption of AI, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and ensure the nation is prepared for AI-driven industrial growth.
Pichai concluded with optimism about the future, stating, "AI will transform every sector and workflow. With the investments being made and the progress we are seeing, India is in a strong position to lead the way in AI innovation."
