Google Breaks Ground on Largest AI Hub Outside United States in India

Google has selected Visakhapatnam in the southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh for a $15 billion artificial intelligence hub, its largest outside the United States. The complex will feature a gigawatt-scale data center supporting services including Gemini and Search, while also strengthening India's digital infrastructure and the resilience of its international network connectivity.

Google formally broke ground on the AI hub on the 28th, advancing construction of the data center and related connectivity infrastructure. The project's vast computing requirements will put heavy pressure on electricity and water supplies, while local water shortages and disputes over land acquisition have also emerged. Water availability, energy allocation and the resettlement of residents will be critical to whether the $15 billion investment can proceed smoothly.