Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, has announced a groundbreaking $15 billion investment to establish a state-of-the-art AI data hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. This facility will be a pivotal part of Google’s global network of AI centers, spanning 12 countries. Thomas Kurien, CEO of Google Cloud, revealed at an event in Delhi that this will be the largest AI hub outside the United States, with the investment phased over the next five years. The announcement aligns with India’s growing prominence as a hub for AI and cloud technologies, driven by its low data costs and rapidly expanding internet user base. Sundar Pichai, Alphabet’s CEO, emphasized that the hub will accelerate AI innovation and economic growth in India. The Andhra Pradesh government highlighted the project’s significance for the state’s digital transformation and global standing. The facility will integrate cloud and AI infrastructure with renewable energy systems and an expanded fiber-optic network, supporting the state’s ambitious plan to develop 6GW of data center capacity by 2029. India’s data center industry has seen exponential growth, surpassing 1GW capacity in 2024, nearly triple its 2019 levels, according to JLL’s 2024 report.