PM Modi Inspires Google to Harness AI for India's Development: Sundar Pichai
During a recent CEOs’ roundtable with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet and Google, expressed strong admiration for the Prime Minister’s vision of utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle pressing societal issues in India. Pichai emphasized that Google is not only significantly investing in AI initiatives within the country but is also eager to inject further capital into India’s burgeoning tech landscape.
Reflecting on the Prime Minister’s ambitious 'Digital India' vision, Pichai stated, “PM Modi has pushed us to continue making in India and designing in India. We are proud to now manufacture our Pixel phones in India”. He highlighted Modi’s proactive approach to transforming India through technology, noting, “He is really thinking about how AI can transform the country in a way that benefits the people”.
Pichai elaborated on Modi’s challenge to tech leaders to develop AI applications across various sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy. He remarked, “We are robustly investing in AI in India and we look forward to doing more. We have set several programs in partnership with MeitY, the agriculture and health ministries, and the central and state governments”.
The Google CEO acknowledged Modi's ongoing encouragement for the tech community to enhance their contributions to India’s growth. “PM Modi has always challenged all of us to do more for India. Now, he's asking us to do the same with AI. He has a clear vision, both in terms of the opportunities that AI will create and how the technology will benefit the people”, Pichai noted.
This meeting with top technology and biosciences leaders followed Modi’s address to the Indian diaspora, where he outlined his aspirations for India to emerge as a technology powerhouse. After engaging with 15 CEOs from various sectors, Modi shared his optimism on social media, stating he was “glad to see immense optimism towards India”.
Additionally, Pichai announced the launch of a $120 million ‘Global AI Opportunity Fund’ aimed at making AI education and training accessible in communities worldwide.
Speaking at the 'UN Summit of the Future', Pichai reflected on his upbringing in Chennai and the transformative impact of technology on his life. He recalled limited access to computers during his childhood, saying, “When I came to graduate school in the US, there were labs full of machines I could use anytime. Access to computing inspired me to pursue a career where I could bring technology to more people”.
With PM Modi's vision as a guiding force, Pichai envisions a future where AI plays a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for millions in India.
