Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have unveiled an ambitious roadmap to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across India. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, Pichai announced new initiatives focused on AI education, cloud infrastructure, public sector transformation, and scientific research.
From AI certification programmes for professionals to generative AI tools for schools and major subsea cable investments, Google is strengthening its long-term AI commitment in India.
AI Professional Certificate and Student Training Push
Google will roll out a new AI professional certificate programme designed to help working professionals apply artificial intelligence in real-world workplace scenarios. The move aims to bridge the growing skills gap as businesses rapidly adopt AI technologies.
In addition, Google will partner with Wadhwani AI to provide AI training access to early-career students, helping them build practical AI skills at the start of their professional journeys.
“To take advantage of the opportunities this infrastructure creates, we must also invest in people and skilling,” Pichai said.
Generative AI Assistants for 10,000 Schools
Google also plans to collaborate with government-run Atal Tinkering Labs to bring generative AI assistants to more than 10,000 schools across India. This initiative is expected to reach approximately 11 million students, with a strong focus on robotics and coding education.
The goal is to equip young learners with hands-on AI exposure, preparing them for a technology-driven future.
India-America Connect Initiative: Boosting AI Infrastructure
A major highlight of the announcement was the launch of the India-America Connect Initiative, a new infrastructure project aimed at strengthening AI connectivity between India and the United States.
The initiative will introduce new subsea cable routes across multiple locations in the Southern Hemisphere. Combined with Google’s $15 billion AI hub investment, the infrastructure expansion will include advanced data centres and connectivity upgrades.
Pichai said that once completed, the subsea cable and data centre ecosystem would generate employment opportunities and bring advanced AI capabilities to businesses across India.
Google Cloud to Power AI for 20 Million Public Servants
Citing the government’s 2025 AI Readiness Index, which places India among the top global performers in public sector AI adoption, Pichai revealed that Google Cloud will provide infrastructure for a large-scale government platform.
The platform is expected to support more than 20 million public servants across 800 districts and function in 18 Indian languages, improving digital governance and service delivery nationwide.
Gemini and Searchlight: India Among Top AI Users
India has emerged as one of the largest markets for Google’s flagship AI chatbot, Gemini, which is powered by large language models.
Google also announced an enhanced version of its voice- and camera-based search tool, Searchlight. The upgraded version will allow users to search what they see in their native languages. According to Pichai, Indian users are among the highest global adopters of voice and visual search technologies.
$30 Million Science Impact Challenge
Google.org has introduced a new $30 million Science Impact Challenge grant to support the next generation of scientific breakthroughs.
“AI is fundamentally shifting the pace of discovery. From advancing quantum computing to predicting extreme weather, it is giving us tools to understand the universe more deeply and tackle hard scientific problems,” Pichai said.
Under the National Partnerships for AI initiative, Google DeepMind will collaborate with the Indian government to expand access to frontier AI capabilities aligned with national priorities.
India’s Role as a Full-Stack AI Player
During a panel discussion that included Demis Hassabis, James Manyika, and NITI Aayog distinguished fellow Debjani Ghosh, Pichai highlighted India’s unique position in the global AI landscape.
“Google has a full-stack commitment to India, and I have never been more excited about the future we are building together,” Pichai said.
He further added, “You have to make sure you are investing in all the foundational things you need (such as) research, knowledge and institutions, and the government playing a role in diffusing AI across the country and economy.”
The Bigger Picture
With large-scale investments in infrastructure, AI training, public sector digitisation, and scientific research, Google’s latest announcements signal a long-term strategy to make India a major global AI hub.
As AI continues to reshape industries, education, and governance, India appears set to play a leading role in the next wave of artificial intelligence innovation.