US-India Partnership Critical for AI Future, Says Google CEO Sundar Pichai at AI Impact Summit 2026

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has underscored the growing importance of the US-India partnership in shaping the global artificial intelligence landscape. Speaking at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Pichai emphasized that collaboration between the two nations will play a defining role in determining how AI evolves in the coming decades.

AI at the Cusp of Hyper Progress

Delivering the keynote address, Pichai said, "We are on the cusp of an era of hyper progress and new discoveries. The best outcomes are not guaranteed. We must work together to ensure the benefits of AI are available to everyone and everywhere".

His remarks reflect a broader global conversation around responsible AI development, equitable access, and international cooperation. As AI becomes deeply integrated into healthcare, climate science, finance, and governance, cross-border partnerships are increasingly viewed as essential.

India’s Extraordinary AI Trajectory

Pichai reaffirmed India’s rising importance in the global AI ecosystem, stating, "I believe India is going to have an extraordinary trajectory with AI, and we are supporting with full-stack commitment, including products, skilling and infrastructure,".

Google’s AI Solutions for India

He highlighted that Google is building AI solutions tailored for Indian consumers and enterprises. The company has contributed 22 Gemma models to AI Coach, supporting research and real-world deployment.

Google is also collaborating with the Indian government on key AI-driven applications, including:

• Timely monsoon forecasts to assist agriculture

• Disease screening initiatives

• Expanding access to information in more Indian languages

These initiatives align with India’s push to leverage AI for public services and digital inclusion.

India Leads in Voice and Visual Search Adoption

Pichai pointed out India’s rapid adoption of advanced AI-powered search tools.

"Indian users are amongst the highest adopters of voice and visual search globally," he said, adding that scam detection features such as 'Circle to Search' and 'Lens' are used in India more than anywhere else.

India’s digital-first consumer base, combined with affordable data access and widespread smartphone usage, has accelerated AI feature adoption across platforms.

Skilling 10 Million Future AI Leaders

To build long-term AI capability, Google’s AI Skill House aims to equip 10 million future Indian leaders with AI skills.

Earlier this week, Google also announced a partnership with Wadhwani AI to provide early-career students with access to structured AI training programs. The initiative supports India’s ambition to become a global AI talent hub.

$15 Billion Investment and AI Hub in Visakhapatnam

Pichai highlighted Google’s $15 billion investment in Indian infrastructure, announced last year. A major portion of this investment is centered on an AI hub in Visakhapatnam featuring gigawatt-scale compute capacity.

This infrastructure push is designed to support large-scale AI model training, enterprise applications, and cloud services for both domestic and international markets.

India America Connect Initiative and Subsea Cable Expansion

"Building on this, we recently announced the India America connect initiative, which will deliver new subsea cable routes to connect the US, India and multiple locations across the southern hemisphere. Combined with our existing cable systems, this initiative will significantly expand the digital trade routes and serve as a literal bridge between our two countries," he said.

Subsea cable expansion is critical for:

• Faster and more reliable data transfers

• Stronger cloud infrastructure

• Expanding global AI collaboration

Pax Silica and Secure AI Supply Chains

Pichai also stressed the importance of stable semiconductor supply chains. He referenced Pax Silica, a silicon supply chain initiative comprising US allies aimed at tackling China’s growing AI capabilities.

India recently signed a declaration to join the alliance, reinforcing its strategic alignment in key technology sectors such as semiconductors, AI hardware, and advanced computing.

Stable chip supply is essential for sustaining AI growth, especially as global demand for high-performance GPUs and AI accelerators continues to surge.

Why the US-India AI Alliance Matters

The US and India together represent:

• Two of the world’s largest tech talent pools

• Fast-growing digital economies

• Strong startup ecosystems

• Shared democratic values around open innovation

As AI reshapes industries and geopolitics, the US-India partnership could define the next era of technological leadership.

Pichai’s address at the AI Impact Summit 2026 signals not only Google’s long-term commitment to India but also the deepening strategic alignment between the two nations in artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and semiconductor resilience.