PM Modi Inspiring Us to Utilize AI for the Benefit of People: Google’s Sundar Pichai
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for artificial intelligence (AI) is driving the tech giant to focus on using AI to tackle pressing societal issues. He highlighted that Google is not only investing heavily in AI in India but also plans to increase its capital infusion into the country.
Speaking at a CEOs’ roundtable with PM Modi, Pichai expressed admiration for the Prime Minister’s commitment to transforming India through the ‘Digital India’ initiative. “PM Modi has urged us to continue manufacturing and designing in India. We are proud to now produce our Pixel phones locally. He is genuinely focused on how AI can transform the country for the benefit of its people,” Pichai remarked.
He noted that PM Modi has challenged tech leaders to develop applications in various sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy, to help India transition into a developed nation.
“We are making significant investments in AI in India and look forward to expanding our efforts. We have launched several programs in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, as well as the agriculture and health ministries at both central and state levels,” Pichai added.
The Google CEO emphasized that PM Modi consistently encourages industry leaders to contribute more to India, especially in the realm of AI. “He has a clear vision regarding the opportunities AI presents and how this technology can benefit the populace,” he stated.
Following his address to the Indian diaspora, PM Modi met with top leaders in technology and biosciences, expressing optimism about India’s future. Pichai recently announced a $120 million ‘Global AI Opportunity Fund’ aimed at making AI education and training accessible in communities worldwide.
Reflecting on his upbringing in Chennai, India, Pichai noted, “The introduction of new technology significantly improved our lives. The computer, in particular, had a transformative effect on me. Limited access to technology in my youth made the resources available in graduate school in the US particularly eye-opening. This access motivated me to pursue a career focused on bringing technology to more people.”
