Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet Inc. and Google, on Friday, 20 February, placed the US-India partnership at the centre of the global artificial intelligence debate, stating that the two countries will play a defining role in shaping the technology’s future.
Speaking on Day 5 of the India AI Impact Summit, he said the world stands on the cusp of an era of hyper-progress and new discoveries but informed that the best outcomes are not guaranteed, adding that governments and companies must work together to ensure the benefits of AI reach everyone, everywhere.
As per a CNBC-TV18 report, Pichai described Google as a bridge between the United States and India both figuratively and literally and announced the India-America Connect initiative. He said new subsea cables linking the US, India and the southern hemisphere would significantly expand digital trade routes and stated that from AI hubs to cables everything depends on secure flows, stressing the need for stable and trusted supply chains.
He added that Pax Technica strengthens safe technology partnerships and described the recent India-US trade agreement as historic, stating that it sets the foundation for a long-term technology partnership. Pichai said India is poised for an extraordinary AI trajectory and that Google is backing this with a full-stack commitment spanning products and infrastructure.
He informed that the company has contributed 22 Gemma models to AIKosh and is working with the government on real-world AI impact. He pointed to applications including monsoon forecasts for farmers, diabetic retinopathy screening and expanded multilingual access, stating that AI must address practical problems.
AI is also reshaping everyday products, he said, noting that Indian users are among the highest adopters globally of voice and visual search. Scam detection features such as Circle to Search and Lens are witnessing some of their highest usage in India, he stated.
Pichai repeated his warning that while AI can drive hyper-progress, positive outcomes are not automatic and require responsible development. He underlined again that AI could help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps and stated that investments in digital infrastructure, including subsea connectivity, will spur economic activity.
He stressed the need to pursue AI both boldly and responsibly, describing it as a defining moment that requires collaboration between governments, companies and developers.
On Day 4 of the summit, Pichai reflected on travelling on the Coromandel Express during his student years, recalling how it passed through Visakhapatnam, now home to Google’s first AI Hub in India.
He stated that the company is establishing the hub with an investment of approximately $15 billion over five years from 2026 to 2030, bringing together data centre capacity, AI infrastructure, fibre networks and clean energy.
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First Published on February 20, 2026, 13:05:57 IST