Google breaks ground on AI hub in Visakhapatnam with $15 bn India investment plan

Google on Tuesday broke ground on a major artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, marking the start of what it described as its largest investment in India’s digital infrastructure and AI ecosystem.

The project, being developed in partnership with AdaniConneX and Nxtra by Airtel, will create a gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure comprising three data centre campuses in Andhra Pradesh.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu attended the groundbreaking ceremony at Tarluvada near Visakhapatnam.

The initiative is part of Google’s planned investment of $15 billion in India over 2026–2030 to build a comprehensive AI ecosystem.

Vaishnaw said the AI hub, along with subsea cable infrastructure planned in Visakhapatnam, would play a key role in strengthening India’s digital backbone and technological leadership.

Naidu said the project would position Andhra Pradesh as a major technology and investment destination, while generating employment and supporting innovation in the region.

“Our vision goes beyond attracting investment – we want local talent, startups, and enterprises to become active partners in this technology-driven growth story,” the chief minister said in a statement.

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said the facility would act as a catalyst for AI-led growth and open up new economic opportunities.

Speaking after the foundation-laying ceremony, Adani Group Director Jeet Adani said the Group and Airtel are also playing a key role in its construction.

He added that the global AI race is being defined not only by software but also by the ability to build large-scale infrastructure, noting that India stands at a crucial juncture.

“There are moments that define the course of history, and today marks one such moment in Visakhapatnam as it steps forward to anchor India’s AI-driven digital future,” said Jeet Adani.

According to the company, the hub will include expanded fibre-optic connectivity under an “America-India Connect” initiative and a clean energy strategy aimed at supporting India’s target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

The AI hub is expected to provide high-performance, low-latency computing capabilities for businesses, startups and research institutions to build and scale AI applications.

Google also announced a series of community-focused initiatives in the Visakhapatnam region, including watershed management and water access projects, digital and financial literacy programmes for fishing communities, grants for local innovation, and skill development initiatives targeting youth and women entrepreneurs.