‘Brought Microsoft to Hyderabad, now Google to Vizag’: CM Naidu welcomes India’s first AI hub
The project is with an investment of approximately $15 billion over five years
By - Sri Lakshmi Muttevi
Visakhapatnam: “After bringing Microsoft to Hyderabad, I have now brought Google to Visakhapatnam,” said Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, as the state announced a major investment by Google to set up India’s first Artificial Intelligence Hub in the city.
Google to establish India’s first Artificial Intelligence Hub in Visakhapatnam, positioning Vizag as the nation’s flagship AI city and a catalyst for next‑generation digital infrastructure and innovation.
$15 billion investment
The project, with an investment of approximately $15 billion over five years, is among Google’s largest initiatives in Asia and will deploy its full AI stack to accelerate AI-driven transformation across India.
The hub will integrate hyperscale data centre capacity, high‑performance AI infrastructure, new large‑scale energy sources and an expanded fibre‑optic backbone in a single location to deliver low‑latency, high‑throughput services nationwide.
Thousands of jobs
The investment is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Andhra Pradesh, anchored by a robust AI skilling pipeline for youth and STEM talent. The hub is designed to attract global capital, strengthen US–India technology cooperation, and anchor the next phase of India’s digital transformation from Vizag.
‘I brought Google to Vizag’
Speaking at the MoU signing event between Google and the Andhra Pradesh Government in Delhi, CM Naidu called it a ‘very auspicious and happy day’ for the state. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the CM said their support made the project possible.
He also acknowledged Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh for his efforts, saying, “He worked closely with Google, visited their office, spent a lot of time and updated me regularly. We aimed to complete this in 12 months; though it took 13, we made it happen. I am proud of this achievement.”
Recalling his legacy in IT development, CM Naidu added, “I brought Microsoft to Hyderabad in the late 1990s. Today, I am proud that Google is coming to Visakhapatnam. From Hitech City to data centres and AI in 2025, we are witnessing an inspiring transformation.”
Largest AI hub
Google Cloud Global CEO Thomas Kurien said this is the new gigawatt-scale AI hub in Visakhapatnam — the largest AI hub.
“This is going to be the largest AI hub we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world outside of the United States. It represents a capital investment of $15 billion over the next five years and will scale to multiple gigawatts,” said Kurien.
Kurien added that this facility will be part of a global network of AI centres spread across 12 countries, with Visakhapatnam emerging as the flagship hub outside the US.
Aiming to make Vizag a global connectivity hub
Additionally, Google Cloud plans to transform Visakhapatnam into a global connectivity hub by landing its subsea cable infrastructure in the city. This will be integrated into Google’s global subsea network, making Visakhapatnam a major digital backbone for India — connecting multiple regions and strengthening the country’s technological ecosystem.
AI in curriculum
Education Minister Nara Lokesh envisions the hub as a transformative platform that accelerates the State’s digital economy, creates high‑value jobs, and catalyses startup growth.
The State is set to lead India’s next major technological transformation through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data innovation. Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony between the Andhra Pradesh Government and Google in New Delhi, Lokesh described the initiative as a historic milestone for both the state and the nation. Data is the new oil, and data centres are the new refineries.
“It’s not just about Andhra Pradesh playing a key role in India anymore — it’s about India playing a key role on the global landscape,” said Nara Lokesh.
The minister emphasised that the government’s focus was not only on establishing infrastructure but also on preparing the workforce for the future. “All senior ministers are aligned in executing this project at scale. Our priority is to skill up our youth, revamp the curriculum, and embrace AI to unlock the next wave of opportunities,” he said.
Education and IT go hand in hand
Recalling India’s earlier technological leap, Lokesh stated, “We saw how the Y2K revolution transformed cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Now, the AI revolution will transform the next generation of cities, starting with Visakhapatnam.”
Highlighting the synergy between education and technology, Lokesh said, “Education and IT go hand in hand — that’s why both portfolios are under one ministry. The idea is to merge them and ensure tangible outcomes on the ground.”
Road to partnership summit
Today’s announcement precedes the Partnership Summit to be hosted in Vizag this November, showcasing the State’s Swarna Andhra vision of inclusive growth. It follows successful investment roadshows and delegations to Davos, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and the United States, with upcoming visits planned to the UAE and Australia as part of the Summit build‑up.
