Visakhapatnam AI hub will be connected to subsea cable and serve as global connectivity center: Kurian CEO, Google Cloud

The new Visakhapatnam AI hub will connect to Google’s global network through subsea cable infrastructure, according to Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, reports 24brussels. This facility is poised to become Google’s largest AI center outside the United States, backed by a USD 15 billion investment over the next five years.

Kurian emphasized that the AI hub, referred to as the ‘Andhra Pradesh AI hub’, will function as a landing station for multiple subsea cables, establishing a vital digital backbone that connects various regions in India. “We are not just bringing AI technology, but also a digital infrastructure through our subsea cable and network connectivity hub,” he stated. This new gigawatt-scale hub will form part of a wider network of AI centers in 12 countries.

During the announcement, Kurian expressed pride in Google’s longstanding presence in India, marking its 21st year with 14,000 employees across five locations. He noted that the investment is significant, declaring, “It’s the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world, outside of the U.S.”

The Visakhapatnam hub will feature a comprehensive suite of solutions using Google’s proprietary TPUs (Tensor Processing Units), which promise enhanced energy efficiency. Data will be stored locally to comply with national AI regulations. Google plans to implement its models, including Gemini, Imagine, and Veo, at the hub. “The hub is designed to provide full AI infrastructure to serve not just our own needs but also the needs of entrepreneurs, enterprises, and commercial organizations in India,” Kurian remarked.

This announcement represents a pivotal advancement in India’s artificial intelligence sector, integrating state-of-the-art AI capabilities with essential digital infrastructure, and positioning Andhra Pradesh as a central player in the nation’s expanding technology landscape.