AI Will Unlock New Discoveries, Drive Hyper Progress,’ Says Google CEO Sundar Pichai

Google and Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai on Thursday described artificial intelligence as a catalyst for “hyper progress”, capable of unlocking new scientific discoveries and enabling emerging economies to leapfrog traditional development stages, as he outlined Google’s expanding AI and digital infrastructure push in India.

Addressing an audience of policymakers, industry leaders and technologists, Pichai said AI represents the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes, urging governments, companies and institutions to adopt the technology boldly but responsibly.

“We are on the cusp of hyper progress and new discoveries that can help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps,” Pichai said. “But that outcome is neither guaranteed nor automatic. To build AI that is truly helpful for everyone, we must pursue it boldly, approach it responsibly and work through this defining moment together.”

Subsea Cables to Link India and the US

Reiterating a previous announcement, Pichai said Google will build four new subsea fibre optic cable systems between India and the United States, positioning the project as a cornerstone of the company’s broader push to strengthen AI-ready digital infrastructure. The cables are expected to significantly boost cross-border data capacity and resilience, supporting cloud services, AI workloads and global connectivity.

Industry experts say subsea cable investments are becoming critical as AI-driven data flows surge and cloud infrastructure demands expand across regions.

Full-Stack AI Hub in Visakhapatnam

Pichai also confirmed that Google is establishing a full-stack AI hub in Visakhapatnam as part of its previously announced $15 billion infrastructure investment in India.
“The facility will house gigawatt-scale compute capacity and a new international subsea cable gateway, aimed at expanding jobs and AI access across the country,” he said.

The Visakhapatnam hub is expected to combine data centre infrastructure, cloud services and AI platforms, strengthening India’s position in the global AI compute and connectivity ecosystem. Government officials and industry stakeholders view the project as a potential catalyst for regional tech ecosystems and high-skilled employment.

Call for Responsible AI Adoption

Pichai stressed that while AI’s transformative potential is immense, realising its benefits will require responsible governance, safety frameworks and inclusive access. He called for collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure AI tools are deployed in ways that support economic development, scientific research and social outcomes.

As global competition intensifies around AI infrastructure and compute capacity, Google’s India-focused investments signal the country’s growing role as a strategic hub in the next phase of the digital economy.