Google CEO Sundar Pichai Highlights Artificial Intelligence's Crucial Role in Shaping India's Future

New Delhi, February 18:India is standing at the start of a major technological transformation, and artificial intelligence will play a central role in shaping the country’s future, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on Wednesday. Speaking at an event here, Pichai described the current phase as a "transformational moment". "It feels like the beginning of a decade-long change driven by technology, innovation and large-scale adoption of AI," he stated. Pichai said India is uniquely positioned to benefit from artificial intelligence, but stressed that this opportunity comes with responsibility. "The country must ensure strong investments go into AI research and into spreading the use of AI across all sectors," he noted. He highlighted the importance of building the foundational layers of AI so that its benefits reach every part of the economy and society. Highlighting India’s rapid digital progress, Pichai said the country has undergone an incredible transformation in recent years.‘Nice To Be Back’: Google CEO Sundar Pichai Meets PM Narendra Modi During India AI Impact Summit 2026. #WATCH| Delhi | At a Google event, CEO Sundar Pichai says, "Today, we are announcing the India-America Connect Initiative, which will deliver new sub-sea cable routes to increase AI connectivity between India and the US and multiple locations across the southern hemisphere. For…pic.twitter.com/JhAdnsh58r — ANI (@ANI)February 18, 2026 Delhi: Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai says, "AI is also helping to create net new experiences that are truly helpful. The Gemini app, our personal AI assistant, is growing rapidly across the world, and India is among our largest markets. It's available in 10 languages…pic.twitter.com/rj8vrPNBFX — IANS (@ians_india)February 18, 2026 "Indian users are among the highest global adopters of voice-based and image-based search, showing how quickly people in the country embrace new technologies," he noted. He also said India has emerged as one of the largest markets for Gemini -- reflecting the growing role of AI tools among Indian users. Pichai also spoke about the need to prepare young students for a technology-driven future. He said Alphabet is partnering with Atal Tinkering Labs to bring robotics and coding into classrooms.India AI Impact Summit 2026: Wikipedia Co-Founder Jimmy Wales Dismisses ‘Grokepedia’ and AI Rivalry, Cites 8% Traffic Drop As ‘Disaster’. The initiative aims to encourage innovation, creativity and problem-solving skills among school students at an early age. Pichai said India’s scale, talent, and digital adoption make it a key player in the global AI journey. "If the right investments and policies are put in place, AI can become a powerful tool for inclusive growth and long-term transformation in the country," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, Pichai said Google is infusing AI at all levels in India to improve healthcare, support startups, agriculture and more. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed India’s growing work in AI and how Google can collaborate with the country’s talented students and professionals. PM Modi said the conversation with Pichai focused on India’s rapid progress in AI and opportunities for deeper cooperation between the government and Google in the field. TruLY Score 4 – Reliable | On a Trust Scale of 0-5 this article has scored 4 on LatestLY. The information comes from reputable news agencies like (IANS). While not an official source, it meets professional journalism standards and can be confidently shared with your friends and family, though some updates may follow. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 18, 2026 05:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our websitelatestly.com).