“A $15 billion blueprint for a full-stack AI ecosystem”: Google’s Bikash Kolay on Vizag AI hub

In a groundbreaking move, Google is establishing a $15 billion AI hub in Visakhapatnam, envisioned as a cornerstone of India’s digital and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Bikash Kolay, Vice President of Global Infrastructure at Google Cloud, described the initiative as a "blueprint for a full-stack AI ecosystem" during a recent event where Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu officiated the project's foundation on April 28. Kolay emphasized the project's vast scale and ambition, reflecting the increasing computational needs of the AI era. He stated, "Today marks Google’s first and largest commitment to India’s digital future, built at a foundational scale for realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047." He elaborated that this hub is fundamentally a 1-gigawatt-scale campus designed to meet the substantial computational demands of emerging AI technologies. Spanning 600 acres across Rambilli, Adavivaram, and Tarluvada, the hub is anticipated to enhance key Google services, including Gemini and Search, benefiting millions of users in the region. Kolay positioned this initiative as more than a mere data center investment, highlighting its significance in reinforcing India’s digital infrastructure through enhanced global connectivity. He remarked, "This is, frankly, more than just moving bits and bytes around. These subsea cables honor a long history of global connection… turning maritime trade routes between the New World and India into digital trade routes." A crucial element of this strategy includes the establishment of an international subsea cable landing station in Vizag, aimed at introducing "micro-diversity" to India’s network framework. Currently, much of the country’s international data traffic is funneled through Mumbai and Chennai, which can lead to potential bottlenecks in connectivity. The project will also see collaboration among various partners, including Adani Group, FedEx, Bharti Airtel, and Nextera Energy, to create essential supporting infrastructure such as power transmission networks and clean energy resources. Furthermore, Kolay revealed plans to train over 125,000 students in cloud and AI competencies and to upskill more than 1,000 local workers for technical positions. Alongside these technological advancements, Google is developing a watershed master plan to ensure long-term water security and agricultural resilience in the Visakhapatnam area, aligning the project with sustainability objectives.