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New Delhi: India is drawing some of the biggest names in global technology, as artificial intelligence investments shift sharply toward fast-growing markets. The combination of young talent, cheap data, and a massive user base has turned the country into a key AI battleground for Amazon, Microsoft, Google and others. These firms want a long future here, and they are putting real money behind it.
Every week seems to bring a major announcement. In the last few months alone, billions of dollars have been committed to new AI hubs, cloud expansion, chip partnerships, and skilling efforts. It feels like the start of something much bigger, and the impact could reshape jobs, learning, and productivity for years.
Amazon said on December 10 that it will invest 35 billion USD in India by 2030, deepening its position in one of its biggest global markets. The company wants to expand artificial intelligence and logistics infrastructure, including its cloud business and fast delivery services. The firm expects this push to create 3.8 million direct and indirect jobs in the country by 2030, according to Amit Agarwal, Senior Vice President for Emerging Markets at Amazon.
Microsoft arrived with a record announcement too. During his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 9, CEO Satya Nadella pledged 17.5 billion USD by 2029, saying India’s mix of policy and market forces is “magic”. The company is looking to boost Copilot usage and expand its existing workforce of more than 22,000 employees across cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Noida and Gurugram.
Google had already moved earlier when it committed 15 billion USD in October to establish a giant AI hub in Visakhapatnam. It will bring data centres, renewable energy capacity and jobs. Google stated the project could create up to 1 lakh employment opportunities by 2030.
The semiconductor push is heating up as well. Tata Electronics recently secured Intel as a buyer for its chip facilities, signalling industry confidence in India’s manufacturing potential. Cognizant too has shown interest in supporting India’s AI First initiative with skill development and faster AI adoption.
There is buzz around OpenAI as well. Reports suggest the company is in talks with Tata Consultancy Services to set up an India chapter of Stargate, its ambitious AI computing project. The firm is currently giving one-year free access to ChatGPT Pro for Indian users.
New digital policies and AI governance guidelines from the Centre are helping keep momentum. The IndiaAI Mission, approved with a budget of more than Rs 10,000 crore, aims to build research strength, computing infrastructure and an AI-ready workforce. A Centre of Excellence for AI in education is also planned to support future learning needs.
Some states such as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have drafted their own AI roadmaps to bring investments to local ecosystems.
Indian players are also pushing into AI. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are bundling advanced AI assistants with mobile plans, giving millions of users free access to Gemini Pro and Perplexity Pro. Such offers show how AI tools are moving into everyday life, from communication to entertainment.
These investments come at a time when India is positioning itself as a major digital economy. The result could be new jobs in cloud operations, semiconductor plants, data centres, cybersecurity and AI development. It may also accelerate upskilling for the youth, helping them take on higher-value roles.
The question being asked by economists is how fast this growth will reflect in GDP numbers. If these commitments stay on track, India could become a central AI hub for Asia, not just a market for products.
