At the 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on August 29, 2025, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, reaffirmed India's significance to Google, highlighting the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) across various sectors in the country. Pichai's address underscored Google's commitment to partnering with Reliance in driving AI adoption, from small businesses to large enterprises.
Pichai described India's AI opportunity as “extraordinary,” emphasizing its potential to revolutionize sectors ranging from small "kirana" stores to global enterprises. He highlighted the collaboration between Google and Reliance to facilitate AI transformation across Reliance's diverse businesses, including energy, retail, telecom, and financial services.
To support this widespread AI adoption, Google and Reliance are jointly establishing a Jamnagar Cloud region dedicated to Reliance. This cloud region will leverage Google Cloud's AI and computing capabilities, powered by clean energy from Reliance and connected through Jio's advanced network. This initiative aims to provide a robust infrastructure for AI innovation and deployment across India.
Google's commitment to India is further exemplified by its significant investments in the country's digital infrastructure and talent development. In 2020, Google committed to investing approximately $10 billion (Rs 75,000 crore) in India over the next five to seven years through the Google for India Digitization Fund. This investment focuses on enabling affordable access to information, developing products and services tailored to India's unique needs, empowering businesses in their digital transformation, and leveraging AI for social good in sectors like health, education, and agriculture.
Moreover, Google is actively working to expand its AI capabilities in regional languages and empower millions of Indians with AI skills. Initiatives like the AI Skills House aim to equip 10 million Indians with AI training through accessible digital courses. Google Cloud is also collaborating with MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) to launch a Center of Excellence on Generative AI and Language Inclusivity, with the goal of equipping over 1 million professionals and students with generative AI knowledge and skills.
India has emerged as a strategic hub for Google's future growth, with plans to shift core product development work for key services like Search and Maps to the country. This move is expected to double Google's workforce in India. Google's engagement with India has deepened over the years, expanding from initial offices in Bengaluru and Hyderabad in 2004 to multiple offices across five cities. The company recognizes India's innovative use of technology as a bellwether for global trends, further solidifying its commitment to supporting global product development from India.
Google's focus on India aligns with the country's rapid digital transformation and the government's vision for a Digital India. Prime Minister Modi's vision for Digital India has been lauded by Pichai as a blueprint for other countries. Google's efforts in India have not only contributed to the country's digital economy but have also provided valuable insights into how technology can be helpful to diverse populations, informing the development of better products for users worldwide.
