Keynote Adresses at India AI Impact Summit 2026

20 Feb 2026 15:00h - 16:00h

Session at a glance

Summary

This discussion centered on the historic signing of the Pax Silica Declaration between India and the United States, marking India’s formal entry into a strategic technology partnership aimed at strengthening secure and resilient technology ecosystems. The event took place at the India AI Impact Forum in New Delhi, bringing together senior government officials and industry leaders from both nations.

Sundar Pichai of Google opened by emphasizing the critical role of U.S.-India partnership in AI development, highlighting Google’s comprehensive commitment to India through products, skills development, and infrastructure investments, including a $15 billion investment and the India-America Connect Initiative for subsea cables. Sanjay Mehrotra from Micron Technology discussed the importance of memory and storage in AI systems, showcasing Micron’s significant presence in India with 4,000 employees and a $2.75 billion investment in Gujarat’s semiconductor manufacturing facility.

Undersecretary Jacob Helberg framed Pax Silica as a declaration against weaponized economic dependency, drawing parallels between historical resistance to colonial rule and current efforts to build secure supply chains. He emphasized that the initiative represents a pro-innovation approach to AI and technology development among free nations. Ambassador Sergio Gore highlighted the strategic importance of India’s entry into Pax Silica, noting India’s engineering capabilities, critical mineral processing capacity, and shared democratic values.

Indian Minister Ashwini Vaishnav emphasized India’s trusted position globally and its technological capabilities, particularly in semiconductor design. The formal signing ceremony concluded with officials from both countries exchanging the declaration, symbolizing a new chapter in U.S.-India technological cooperation and economic security partnership.

Keypoints

Major Discussion Points:

– Google’s AI commitment to India: Sundar Pichai outlined Google’s comprehensive strategy including AI products for Indian consumers, skills training for 10 million future leaders, and a $15 billion infrastructure investment featuring an AI hub in Vizag and new subsea cable connections between the US and India.

– The Pax Silica Declaration signing: A historic agreement between India and the United States aimed at strengthening secure and resilient technology ecosystems, with India formally joining this partnership to advance responsible innovation and build trusted supply chains.

– Semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain security: Emphasis on reducing over-concentrated global supply chains and preventing economic coercion, with Micron’s $2.75 billion investment in Gujarat serving as a pioneering example of advanced semiconductor manufacturing in India.

– Strategic partnership between democracies: Multiple speakers emphasized the alliance between the world’s oldest and largest democracies, highlighting shared values of self-determination, innovation, and resistance to authoritarian control over critical technologies.

– India’s technological capabilities and trust: Recognition of India as a trusted partner with significant engineering talent, 315 design centers, and the civilizational stability needed to be a key player in securing the future of AI, semiconductors, and critical technologies.

Overall Purpose:

The discussion centered around formalizing and celebrating India’s entry into the Pax Silica coalition, a strategic partnership aimed at securing critical technology supply chains and ensuring that democratic nations maintain control over AI, semiconductors, and other emerging technologies rather than authoritarian regimes.

Overall Tone:

The tone was consistently ceremonial, optimistic, and strategically focused throughout. It began with corporate enthusiasm from tech leaders, evolved into diplomatic formality during the signing ceremony, and maintained an underlying sense of urgency about technological sovereignty and democratic values. The rhetoric was notably assertive about standing against economic coercion while remaining celebratory about the partnership’s potential.

Speakers

Speakers from the provided list:

– Sergio Gore – U.S. Ambassador to India

– Sundar Pichai – CEO of Google

– Sanjay Mehrotra – CEO of Micron Technology

– Ashwini Vaishnav – Minister (India)

– Participant – Event moderator/host

– Jacob Helberg – Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs, United States

Additional speakers:

– Michael Kratios – OSTP Director (Office of Science and Technology Policy), head of U.S. delegation

– S. Krishnan – Secretary (India)

– Randhir Thakur – CEO of Tata Electronics

– CEO of General Catalyst – Role/title mentioned but name not provided in transcript

Full session report

This comprehensive discussion documented the historic signing of the Pax Silica Declaration between India and the United States at the India AI Impact Forum in New Delhi, marking India’s formal entry into a strategic coalition designed to strengthen secure and resilient technology ecosystems. The event brought together senior government officials and industry leaders from both nations to formalise what participants characterised as a fundamental shift in how democratic nations approach technological sovereignty and economic security.

Strategic Framework and Historical Context

The ceremony opened with Sundar Pichai of Google establishing the broader context of artificial intelligence development, emphasising that whilst the world stands “on the cusp of an era of hyper-progress and new discoveries,” the best outcomes are not guaranteed without deliberate cooperation. Pichai positioned the U.S.-India partnership as critical to ensuring AI benefits reach everyone globally, acknowledging Director Kratzios and other officials present.

Undersecretary Jacob Helberg provided philosophical framing of the partnership by drawing historical parallels to Alexander the Great’s encounter with India, noting that “it was in India that Alexander finally met his match and turned around. He did not know India, and India said no.” This historical metaphor served to reframe the contemporary partnership as a continuation of shared democratic values rooted in resistance to domination, with both nations having rejected colonial rule to “take our destiny into our own hands.”

The Pax Silica Initiative: Economic Security as National Security

The Pax Silica Declaration represents a strategic response to weaponised economic dependency and supply chain vulnerabilities. Helberg articulated the initiative’s core premise: “We have seen the lights of a great Indian city extinguished by a keystroke from across the border, and we’ve seen our friends denied essential minerals simply because a leader dared to speak her mind.” This positioned Pax Silica as proactive strength-building by nations refusing economic coercion.

Ambassador Sergio Gore explained that Pax Silica creates “a coalition of capabilities that replaces coercive dependencies with a positive sum alliance of trusted industrial bases.” The initiative encompasses the entire “silicon stack” – from critical mineral extraction to semiconductor fabrication to AI deployment. Gore emphasised this represents a fundamental choice about “whether free societies will control the commanding heights of the global economy” and “whether innovation happens in Bengaluru and Silicon Valley or in surveillance states.”

Major Infrastructure and Investment Commitments

The discussion revealed significant financial commitments underpinning the partnership. Google announced substantial investment in Indian infrastructure, centred around an AI hub in Vizag featuring “gigawatt-scale computing” designed to “bring jobs and the benefits of cutting-edge AI to people and businesses across India.” Google’s India-America Connect Initiative will establish new subsea cable routes connecting the U.S., India, and multiple Southern Hemisphere locations.

Sanjay Mehrotra of Micron Technology detailed his company’s $2.75 billion investment in Gujarat for advanced semiconductor packaging and assembly operations. The facility, spanning 500,000 square feet – “the size of 10 cricket fields” – represents what Mehrotra characterised as “the pioneering project of semiconductor manufacturing here in India.” This builds upon Micron’s existing R&D presence in India, which since 2019 has grown to employ 4,000 people and generated approaching 2,000 patents from 300 Indian inventors.

India’s Technological Capabilities and Strategic Positioning

Multiple speakers emphasised India’s unique combination of technological capabilities and strategic positioning. Minister Ashwini Vaishnav highlighted India’s semiconductor design capabilities, noting that whilst only 20 Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools exist globally, “India has 315” such capabilities. This technical depth, combined with what Vaishnav described as the “trust and respect” earned through Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy approach and “the gravitas of a 5,000-year-old civilization,” positions India as an ideal technological partner.

Gore reinforced this assessment, noting that “India’s entry into Pax Silica isn’t just symbolic, it’s strategic, it’s essential.” He emphasised India’s “engineering depth” sufficient to “rival challengers” and its progress in critical mineral processing capacity. Crucially, Gore highlighted India’s understanding of strength-based diplomacy: “Peace doesn’t come from hoping adversaries will play fair. We all know they won’t. Peace comes through strength. India understands this.”

AI Development and Practical Applications

The discussion revealed comprehensive plans for AI collaboration extending beyond infrastructure to encompass skills development and practical applications. Pichai detailed ongoing collaborations with the Indian government on real-world AI applications, including “delivering timely monsoon forecasts to farmers, helping healthcare workers screen for diseases like diabetic retinopathy, or making information and services accessible in more languages.”

The technical foundation for this collaboration rests partly on India’s exceptional adoption of advanced search technologies. Pichai noted that “Indian users are amongst the highest adopters of voice and visual search globally” and that Google’s “scan detection features with circle to search and lens are used in India more than anywhere else.” The Gemini app’s availability in 10 Indian languages demonstrates the practical foundation for expanded AI cooperation.

Supply Chain Security and Trusted Partnerships

A central theme was the critical importance of building secure, trusted supply chains resistant to coercion. Pichai emphasised that “products, subsea cables, AI hubs are all dependent on a complex flow of goods and components across borders,” making supply chain security essential for technological sovereignty. The Pax Silica initiative addresses this by creating what Gore described as “interdependency among strong actors” rather than vulnerable dependencies on potentially hostile suppliers.

This approach reflects lessons learned from recent supply chain disruptions and economic coercion attempts, with the initiative aiming to address vulnerabilities through diversified, trusted supply chains among democratic partners.

Ceremonial Significance and Industry Participation

The formal signing ceremony, conducted by Undersecretary Helberg, Ambassador Gore, and Secretary S. Krishnan, represented more than diplomatic protocol. The event included participation from multiple industry leaders, including Randhir Thakur of Tata Electronics and representatives from General Catalyst, demonstrating broad private sector engagement.

The exchange of signed declarations and subsequent photography session symbolised what participants characterised as a “historic milestone” in U.S.-India relations and a “new chapter in technological cooperation.” The ceremonial nature, combined with substantial commitments announced, suggests Pax Silica represents a mature partnership where strategic, economic, and technological interests have achieved significant alignment.

Conclusion and Strategic Implications

The Pax Silica Declaration signing represents a comprehensive strategic partnership extending beyond traditional trade agreements. By combining substantial infrastructure investments, technological capability sharing, and supply chain security initiatives, the partnership aims to ensure democratic nations maintain control over critical technologies including AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.

The remarkable consensus among speakers from both government and private sector suggests strong bilateral alignment on technology policy. The initiative’s success will depend on translating announced commitments into operational capabilities that enhance both nations’ technological sovereignty whilst fostering innovation and economic growth within a framework of democratic values and trusted partnerships.

Session transcript

Sundar Pichai

Thank you, Director Kratzios. Thank you for the opportunity to return to this stage and to mark this important occasion in U.S.-India relations. Yesterday, at the opening session, I shared some thoughts on this profound moment with AI. I said we are on the cusp of an era of hyper -progress and new discoveries, but the best outcomes are not guaranteed. We must work together to ensure the benefits of AI are available to everyone and everywhere. The U.S.-India partnership has a critical role to play. Google is proud to serve as a connection point between them, both figuratively and literally. More on this later. We have teams across both countries working seamlessly together on some of our most important initiatives.

Thank you. Innovations that start in India, like Google Pay. are making products better for people all over the world. I believe India is going to have an extraordinary trajectory with AI, and we are supporting with a full -stack commitment, including products, scaling, and infrastructure. First, products. We are working on building AI products and solutions for Indian consumers and businesses. To empower India’s incredible developer community, we have already contributed 22 Gemma models to AI Coach, and we are working closely with the government to bring AI applications with real -world impact, be it through delivering timely monsoon forecasts to farmers, helping healthcare workers screen for diseases like diabetic retinopathy, or making information and services accessible in more languages.

Our commitment extends to reimagining the products people use every day. As one example, AI is changing the way people use search. Indian users are amongst the highest adopters of voice and visual search globally. Our scan detection features with circle to search and lens are used in India more than anywhere else. The Gemini app is growing rapidly across the world, and it’s available in 10 languages spoken in India. And YouTube supports a vibrant ecosystem of Indian content creators sharing music, arts, and culture with the world. Second, skilling. Through the AI skill house, we are working to equip 10 million future Indian leaders with the tools to drive global progress. We are also partnering with Badwani AI to reach students and early career professionals with a Google AI certificate, which we announced earlier this week.

Third, infrastructure. Last year, we announced a $15 billion investment in Indian infrastructure with the AI Hub in Vizag at the center. This hub will house gigawatt -scale computing. When finished, it will bring jobs and the benefits of cutting -edge AI to people and businesses across India. Building on this, we recently announced the India -America Connect Initiative, which will deliver new subsea cable routes to connect the U.S., India, and multiple locations across the Southern Hemisphere. Combined with our existing cable systems, this initiative will significantly expand the digital trade routes and serve as a literal bridge between our two countries. Of course, none of this would be possible without stable supply chains built on a foundation of shared trust.

Products, subsea cables, AI hubs are all dependent on a complex flow of goods and components across borders. Axilica focuses on making sure that the supply chains are safe and secure and encourages greater commercial partnerships across key technologies. So let me congratulate the U.S. and India on this historic moment. Alongside the recent trade agreement, this will lay a strong foundation for a robust U.S.-India tech

Participant

Thank you so much, Mr. Sundar Pichai, for all those motivating and inspiring words. And ladies and gentlemen, today marks an important milestone as India formally joins Pax Silica, a forward -looking partnership aimed at strengthening secure and resilient technology ecosystems at a time when emerging technologies are reshaping global competitiveness and economic security. Trusted partnerships are essential. This declaration reflects a shared commitment by India and the United States to advance responsible innovation and resilient infrastructure. We are honored to have with us senior leadership from both the governments, alongside distinguished representatives from industry and also the diplomatic community. Without any further ado, may I now respectfully invite our distinguished dignitaries to please join us on stage. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in extending a warm welcome as they make their way to the stage.

It’s an honor to have such distinguished leadership this morning, Excellencies. Thank you so much for joining us. We’ll proceed with brief remarks ahead of the signing ceremony. May I please invite Honorable Jacob Helberg, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs, the United States, to deliver his remarks. Thank you. I request Honourable Jacob Helberg, Under -Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, to please present his address. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome. Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to wait for a couple of minutes for Under -Secretary Mr. Jacob Helberg. He is on his way and he would be here with us very soon. It’s an important occasion, especially when we talk of Pax Silica. It’s a historic agreement between the two governments, between the two biggest and the oldest democracies of the world.

And so we are here to listen to our distinguished guests as they present their views, their remarks on Pax Silica. This is one agreement which would change the way both the countries work in this particular domain. Ladies and gentlemen, we have distinguished speakers who are going to join us. And then a very, very important signing agreement procedure, the protocols that need to be followed. We are also going to have a photo op session after this. Ladies and gentlemen, in the meantime, may I please request Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra, the CEO of Micron, to kindly come on the stage and present his keynote address. Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra.

Sanjay Mehrotra

Good morning. On behalf of Micron Technology, I want to say we are super excited to be here participating in this phenomenal AI Summit. Micron is a semiconductor technology leader, leader in memory and storage. Memory and storage are critical to driving AI. As contextual processing becomes larger and as real -time demands on performance are placed on AI systems, they need more and more memory. I’m very proud to say that Micron is the only company in the Western Hemisphere that develops and manufactures memory and storage, and we have had successive generations of leadership in DRAM technology as well as NAND technology. But I’m also very proud today, later, with this PAC -SILICA initiative that will be signed here, bringing the technology collaboration closer between U.S. and India.

Micron, since 2019, has had large presence here in India with R &D centers in Bangalore, in Hyderabad, employing nearly 4 ,000 employees today. What I’m proud of is that Micron has 60 ,000 patents worldwide, one of the most innovative companies, but also a manufacturing powerhouse. Some of our most advanced DRAM products are being designed right here in India in collaboration with our teams in the U.S. In fact, we have now, in this short period since 2019, we now have 300 inventors with number of patents approaching nearly 2 ,000 that have been contributed by the innovative, phenomenal team here in India. Very proud. We are proud also of Micron’s investment in bringing advanced packaging, assembly, and test technologies here to Sanant, Gujarat.

In fact, Mitron is making an investment of $2 .75 billion here in Gujarat. We’ll talk more about it in the fireside chat a little bit later. And those investments now are going to be bringing a grand opening coming up soon where packaging and assembly will be done of advanced memory wafers produced worldwide. So this is a pioneering project here in India. The size of this facility that has been built is 500 ,000 square feet. So imagine that clean room is the size of 10 cricket fields. The amount of steel that has been used in that is about three and a half times of Eiffel Tower. The amount of concrete that is used in that is size of 100 Olympic -sized swimming pools.

This is the pioneering project of semiconductor manufacturing here in India, and Micron is proud to have partnered with the central government as well as the government in Gujarat bringing this project to Sanand. Modi Ji’s government has provided tremendous support and really policy that encourages investment here in India. So without further ado, having shared some of the importance of memory and storage in terms of driving AI infrastructure worldwide and importance of Micron here in India in R &D as well as in manufacturing, I would now like to pass it back to our host. Our host here in continuing with the regularly scheduled program. Thank you very much.

Participant

Thank you so much, Mr. Mehrotra. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me now in inviting Honorable Mr. Jacob Helberg, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs, to deliver his remarks.

Jacob Helberg

Good morning. It’s a profound honor to be here in Delhi at the India AI Impact Forum to mark a historic milestone in the partnership between the United States and India. Today, we sign the Pax Silica Declaration, a document that’s not merely an agreement on paper, but a roadmap for a shared future. There’s a line from antiquity attributed to Alexander the Great that famously said that the people of India are the ones who are the most important people in the world. The peoples of Asia were slaves because they had not yet learned to pronounce the word no. Alexander viewed himself as a conqueror speaking to a world of subjects, and after traveling 11 ,000 miles for eight years, it was in India that Alexander finally met his match and turned around.

He did not know India, and India said no. The truth is, both of our nations were forged by that very word. Both of our nations claimed their freedom by learning to say no. We are the people who looked at a king oceans away and refused to quietly acquiesce. We rejected the counsel of polite society and broke centuries of colonial rule to take our destiny into our own hands. That spirit of defiance, that insistence on self -determination, is the fire that burns at the heart of both of our democracies, and today we are called upon to summon that spirit once again. For too long, we have allowed the foundation of our democracy and the foundations of our economic security to drip.

We find ourselves grappling with a global supply chain that is massively over -concentrated. We watch as our friends and allies face daily threats of economic coercion and blackmail, forced to choose between their sovereignty and their prosperity. We have seen the lights of a great Indian city extinguished by a keystroke from across the border, and we’ve seen our friends denied essential minerals simply because a leader dared to speak her mind. So today, as we sign the Pax Silica Declaration, we say no to weaponized dependency, and we say no to blackmail, and together we say that economic security is national security. But we must be precise about what that word means. There are some who use words like global governance and sovereignty in the same breath, just like Orwell used.

There are some who use freedom and slavery interchangeably. America and India are not deceived. sovereignty does not come from a global bureaucracy. It comes from builders, from the very builders present in this room today. It comes from the builders of smelters and oil wells, airplanes and expressways. And it comes from the hardworking people who physically build the rails of the future. And through the joint statement that we’re signing today, the United States and India are affirming our embrace of a pro -innovation approach to AI against those who would constrain us to set us back. But our fundamental mission is not resistance, it’s renewal. We are forging a supply chain that is the foundation for prosperity.

We are building a new architecture that diffuses intelligence, placing the awesome power of AI into the palm of our people’s hands and unleashing a wave of unprecedented possibility. From the minds to the models, we are securing the foundation, the full stack of the future, the minerals deep in the earth. the silicon wafers in our labs and fabs, and the intelligence that will unleash human potential. Packed Silica is our declaration that the future belongs to those who build. And when free people join forces, we do not wait for the future to be given to us. We build it ourselves. I want to end by thanking my good friend and colleague, Ambassador Sergio Gore. Sergio and his leadership has been the bridge for this very moment.

His work to bring our nations closer together is a testament to the vital importance that the United States places on this friendship. Sergio, thank you

Sergio Gore

for your service and your energy. Will you please all join me in giving Ambassador Gore a very warm welcome? Thank you. Good morning. Namaste. It is great to be here with you all. Thank you, Jacob. I want to just say a quick word about Jacob. Jacob’s an incredible friend, but Jacob also cares deeply about this relationship. This initiative, Pax Silica, would not be happening if it’s not for Jacob Helleberg. So a round of applause to him. What an honor to stand before all of you here today here in New Delhi at this historic moment as we welcome India into Pax Silica. Just over a month ago, I arrived in this extraordinary nation as the U.S. ambassador.

In my first weeks, I’ve walked the halls of South Block, met with innovators in Bangalore, and broke bread with entrepreneurs who are building the future. What struck me most was the fact that I was able to be here today. It wasn’t just India’s scale, although that is breathtaking. It’s India’s resolve, the determination to chart your own course. I keep talking about the limitless potential between our two nations, and I truly mean it. From the trade deal, to Pax Silica, to defense cooperation, the potential for our two nations to work together is truly limitless. And I aim to fulfill that over the next three years that I’m here. Earlier this month, we concluded the Interim Trade Agreement, a deal that shapes the economic contours of the Indo -Pacific.

We overcame friction points that had held us back for far too long. That agreement wasn’t just about trade flows or tariff schedules. It was about two great democracies saying we will build together, not just buy from one another. And now today, we take the next step. India joins Pax Silica, the coalition that will define the 21st century economic and technological order. I’m delighted to welcome Jacob. Jacob here. I’m also delighted to welcome the OSTP Director, Michael Kratios, who’s the head of our delegation at this very important summit. The U.S. leads in a strategic coalition which is designed to secure an entire silicon stack. From the mines we extract critical minerals, to the fabs where we manufacture chips, to the data centers where we deploy frontier AI.

It’s a coalition of capabilities that replaces coercive dependencies with a positive sum alliance of trusted industrial bases. Pax Silica will be a group of nations that believe technology should empower free people and free markets. India’s entry into Pax Silica isn’t just symbolic, it’s strategic, it’s essential. India is a nation with deep talent, deep enough. To rival challengers. India’s engineering depth offers critical capabilities for this vital coalition. In addition to talent, India has made important strides towards critical mineral processing capacity, and that’s something that we’re fully engaged on also. Policies that will reinforce U.S.-India tech cooperation will power AI innovation and adoption for years to come. We can share trusted AI technology with the world and especially with partners like India.

And critically, India brings strength. Peace doesn’t come from hoping adversaries will play fair. We all know they won’t. Peace comes through strength. India understands this. India understands strong borders. India understands this part of the world. That strength, that sovereignty, is exactly what Pax Silica amplifies. Because here’s the truth. Strength multiplies when it’s connected. When Minister Vaishnav and Minister Jay Shankar traveled to Washington, in recent weeks, they came as partners, forging the future. Their discussions on critical minerals were about interdependency among strong actors, about building supply chains that will not be held hostage. America is building coalitions of the capable and the willing. We’re ensuring the technologies that will define the next century. AI, space, and advanced semiconductors are developed, deployed, and controlled by free nations.

And we’re doing it in a partnership with the world’s largest democracy, a nation of 1 .4 billion people that share our values and our vision. We welcome India joining to co -found the future. Pax Silica is about whether free societies will control the commanding heights of the global economy. It’s about whether innovation happens in Bengaluru and Silicon Valley or in surveillance states. They use technology to monitor. And control their

Participant

Thank you, His Excellency Ambassador Sajagore, for re -strengthening and highlighting the enduring ties between our two nations and also for the shared vision that underpins today’s milestone. May I now request Honourable Minister Sri Ashwini Vaishnav to address the August gathering. Siemens,

Ashwini. Vaishnav

all the design EDA tools, students have available. Counting. Not able to count more than 20 in the whole world. India has 315. This capability we have to develop. This scale we have to develop. And in the world India today is seen as a trusted country. India is a trusted country. And that’s because our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has conducted the foreign policy in a way where the trust and respect the respect of a 5000 year old civilization that gravitas that India’s civilization’s stability that stability that world believes in. That gravitas that world believes in. And that’s why India has trust. Because of that trust today that trust is becoming part of the tax silica.

I welcome you all and especially those who worked on the US side. My biggest gratitude to all the three honorable guests from the US for taking out time to be part of this Paxillica signing. And I’ll now request the Paxillica signing ceremony to be done. Thank you, friends. Bharat Mata Ki. Bharat Mata Ki. Thank you. Thank you. S -T -P -U -S.

Participant

Ladies and gentlemen, and now the Pax Silica Declaration is being signed between India and the United States of America. The Pax Silica Declaration is being signed by Honorable Undersecretary Jacob Helberg, His Excellency Ambassador Sergio Gore, and the Secretary, Mr. S. Krishnan. And now Once the declaration has been signed by the respected signatories, the declaration will be exchanged. I request the distinguished guests to kindly hold up the signed declaration for the official photograph. I request the distinguished guests to kindly hold up the signed declaration for the official photograph. I request our distinguished guests to kindly proceed to the photo point on the right of the stage in front of the flags for the official photograph We are going to have an official photograph So may I please request our distinguished guests to kindly proceed to the point in front of the flags on your right that will give us the right picture for this photo So once again we are going to have this photo I would like to now also request CEO of Micron, Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra and Mr. Randhir Thakur, CEO of Tata Electronics to please join us for a photo op on the stage.

I also invite CEO of General Catalyst to come on the stage, please. I thank our distinguished guests for that photo op. It’s a great moment when Pax Silica Declaration has been signed between India and the United States of America. The photo op to commemorate this special moment. This is another historical milestone between the relationship between India and the United States of America. I thank all our distinguished guests for this photo op. I thank Honorable Minister and Mr. Michael Kratios for being with us on this wonderful and historic occasion. Ladies and gentlemen, we are waiting for the furniture to be rearranged and very soon we will now continue with the Fireside Conversation. Ladies and gentlemen, now we would proceed to the Fireside Conversation.

I invite our distinguished guests to please join us for this conversation. Undersecretary Jacob Helberg is going to moderate this discussion. His Excellency Sajiv Garb, Secretary Krishnan, Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO Mike Krohn, and Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO Mike Krohn. Dr. Randhir Thakur, CEO Tata Electronics. I request our distinguished guests to please take your seats as we begin the Fireside Conversation. Please stand by for the Fireside Conversation.

Sundar Pichai

Speech speed

137 words per minute

Speech length

AI Collaboration and Investment between the United States and India

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Financial mechanisms | The enabling environment for digital development

Participant

Speech speed

49 words per minute

Speech length

851 words

Speech time

1023 seconds

Pax Silica as framework for secure, resilient tech ecosystem

Explanation

The participant describes Pax Silica as a forward‑looking partnership that will strengthen secure and resilient technology ecosystems, ensuring responsible innovation amid rapid technological change.

Evidence

“today marks an important milestone as India formally joins Pax Silica, a forward -looking partnership aimed at strengthening secure and resilient technology ecosystems at a time when emerging technologies are reshaping global competitiveness and economic security.” [35]. “This declaration reflects a shared commitment by India and the United States to advance responsible innovation and resilient infrastructure.” [32]. “Trusted partnerships are essential.” [9].

Major discussion point

Pax Silica Strategic Partnership

Topics

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | The enabling environment for digital development

Jacob Helberg

Speech speed

159 words per minute

Speech length

668 words

Speech time

250 seconds

Roadmap rejecting weaponized dependency and linking economic security to national security

Explanation

Helberg states that the Pax Silica declaration explicitly rejects weaponized dependency and blackmail, asserting that economic security is inseparable from national security.

Evidence

“So today, as we sign the Pax Silica Declaration, we say no to weaponized dependency, and we say no to blackmail, and together we say that economic security is national security.” [43].

Major discussion point

Pax Silica Strategic Partnership

Topics

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | Financial mechanisms

Over‑concentrated global supply chains create vulnerability

Explanation

Helberg highlights that current supply chains are heavily concentrated, posing risks to economic and technological sovereignty, and calls for diversification.

Evidence

“We find ourselves grappling with a global supply chain that is massively over -concentrated.” [87]. “We are forging a supply chain that is the foundation for prosperity.” [53].

Major discussion point

Supply Chain Security and Economic Sovereignty

Topics

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | Financial mechanisms

Sergio Gore

Speech speed

133 words per minute

Speech length

715 words

Speech time

320 seconds

Coalition to secure the full silicon stack and leverage India’s talent/mineral capacity

Explanation

Gore explains that the U.S. leads a strategic coalition aimed at securing the entire silicon stack, with India contributing talent and emerging mineral‑processing capabilities.

Evidence

“The U.S. leads in a strategic coalition which is designed to secure an entire silicon stack.” [60]. “In addition to talent, India has made important strides towards critical mineral processing capacity, and that’s something that we’re fully engaged on also.” [61].

Major discussion point

Pax Silica Strategic Partnership

Topics

Artificial intelligence | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | The enabling environment for digital development | Environmental impacts

Building a coalition of free nations to prevent coercive dependencies

Explanation

Gore stresses that Pax Silica creates a coalition that replaces coercive dependencies with trusted industrial bases, ensuring free nations control critical technology layers.

Evidence

“It’s a coalition of capabilities that replaces coercive dependencies with a positive sum alliance of trusted industrial bases.” [50]. “Their discussions on critical minerals were about interdependency among strong actors, about building supply chains that will not be held hostage.” [58]. “Pax Silica will be a group of nations that believe technology should empower free people and free markets.” [36].

Major discussion point

Pax Silica Strategic Partnership

Topics

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | The enabling environment for digital development | Environmental impacts

Sanjay Mehrotra

Speech speed

129 words per minute

Speech length

Semiconductor Memory and Manufacturing as Foundations for AI

Topics

Artificial intelligence | The enabling environment for digital development | Financial mechanisms

Ashwini Vaishnav

Speech speed

0 words per minute

Speech length

Cultural foundations for ICT partnership

Topics

The enabling environment for digital development | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs

Ashwini. Vaishnav

Speech speed

Default speed

Speech length

Default length

Speech time

Default duration

Cultural rallying point for technology partnership

Explanation

Vaishnav invokes the iconic symbol “Bharat Mata” to inspire national pride and frame India’s participation in the Pax Silica coalition as a matter of cultural duty, strengthening collective resolve to build secure ICT ecosystems.

Evidence

“Bharat Mata Ki.” [1].

Major discussion point

Pax Silica Strategic Partnership

Topics

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | The enabling environment for digital development

Expression of gratitude to reinforce collaborative spirit

Explanation

By repeatedly thanking the audience and friends, Vaishnav underscores diplomatic goodwill and the importance of mutual respect in deepening U.S.–India cooperation on digital development and ICT security.

Evidence

“Thank you, friends.” [2]. “Thank you.” [4].

Major discussion point

U.S.–India collaboration in digital development

Topics

The enabling environment for digital development | The digital economy

Agreements

Agreement points

Strategic importance of U.S.-India partnership in technology and AI

Speakers

– Sundar Pichai
– Jacob Helberg
– Sergio Gore
– Ashwini Vaishnav

Arguments

AI era of hyper-progress requires ensuring benefits are available to everyone everywhere through U.S.-India partnership

Pax Silica represents a declaration that economic security is national security and rejection of weaponized dependency

India’s entry into Pax Silica is strategic and essential, bringing engineering depth and critical capabilities to the coalition

India is viewed as a trusted country globally due to Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy approach and the stability of India’s 5000-year-old civilization

Summary

All speakers emphasize the critical importance of the U.S.-India partnership, viewing it as essential for technological advancement, AI development, and strategic security. They see this partnership as mutually beneficial and strategically necessary.

Topics

The enabling environment for digital development | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | Artificial intelligence

India’s significant technological capabilities and manufacturing potential

Speakers

– Sundar Pichai
– Sergio Gore
– Sanjay Mehrotra
– Ashwini Vaishnav

Arguments

Google’s full-stack commitment to India includes AI products, developer community support, and government collaboration on real-world applications

India’s entry into Pax Silica is strategic and essential, bringing engineering depth and critical capabilities to the coalition

Micron’s R&D presence in India since 2019 with 4,000 employees and 300 inventors contributing nearly 2,000 patents

India possesses 315 semiconductor design capabilities compared to only 20 available globally, demonstrating significant technological capacity that needs development and scaling

Summary

All speakers acknowledge India’s substantial technological capabilities, particularly in AI, semiconductor design, and R&D. They view India as having deep engineering talent and significant potential for technological innovation and manufacturing.

Topics

Capacity development | The enabling environment for digital development | Information and communication technologies for development

Importance of secure and resilient supply chains

Speakers

– Sundar Pichai
– Jacob Helberg
– Sergio Gore

Arguments

Stable supply chains built on shared trust are essential for products, cables, and AI hubs across borders

Pax Silica represents a declaration that economic security is national security and rejection of weaponized dependency

Coalition approach replaces coercive dependencies with positive-sum alliance of trusted industrial bases

Summary

Speakers agree on the critical need for secure, trusted supply chains that are not subject to coercion or weaponization. They see the Pax Silica initiative as a way to build resilient alternatives to over-concentrated supply chains.

Topics

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs | The enabling environment for digital development | Environmental impacts

Substantial infrastructure investments in India

Speakers

– Sundar Pichai
– Sanjay Mehrotra

Arguments

Google’s $15 billion investment in Indian infrastructure with AI Hub in Vizag and India-America Connect Initiative for subsea cables

Micron’s $2.75 billion investment in Gujarat for advanced packaging and assembly, creating pioneering semiconductor manufacturing in India

Summary

Both technology leaders announce major infrastructure investments in India, demonstrating confidence in India’s potential and commitment to building technological capabilities in the country.

Topics

Financial mechanisms | The enabling environment for digital development | Information and communication technologies for development

The enabling environment for digital development | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs

Unexpected consensus

Historical and civilizational framing of technological partnership

Speakers

– Jacob Helberg
– Ashwini Vaishnav

Arguments

Pax Silica represents a declaration that economic security is national security and rejection of weaponized dependency

India is viewed as a trusted country globally due to Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy approach and the stability of India’s 5000-year-old civilization

Explanation

Both speakers unexpectedly frame the technological partnership in historical and civilizational terms – Helberg references Alexander the Great and colonial resistance, while Vaishnav emphasizes India’s 5000-year civilization. This suggests a deeper philosophical alignment beyond just technical cooperation.

Topics

The enabling environment for digital development | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs

Private sector as bridge for government partnerships

Speakers

– Sundar Pichai
– Sanjay Mehrotra
– Jacob Helberg
– Sergio Gore

Arguments

AI era of hyper-progress requires ensuring benefits are available to everyone everywhere through U.S.-India partnership

Micron’s R&D presence in India since 2019 with 4,000 employees and 300 inventors contributing nearly 2,000 patents

Pax Silica represents a declaration that economic security is national security and rejection of weaponized dependency

India’s entry into Pax Silica is strategic and essential, bringing engineering depth and critical capabilities to the coalition

Explanation

There’s unexpected consensus that private sector investments and capabilities are integral to government strategic partnerships, with both government and industry speakers viewing private sector engagement as essential to national security objectives.

Topics

The enabling environment for digital development | Financial mechanisms | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers demonstrate remarkable consensus across multiple dimensions: the strategic importance of U.S.-India partnership, India’s technological capabilities, the need for secure supply chains, and the role of substantial infrastructure investments. There is strong alignment between government officials and private sector leaders on both sides.

Consensus level

Very high level of consensus with no apparent disagreements or tensions. This suggests a mature, well-coordinated partnership approach where strategic, economic, and technological interests are aligned. The implications are significant for accelerated cooperation in AI, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure, with both nations viewing this as essential for technological sovereignty and economic security.

Differences

Different viewpoints

Unexpected differences

Overall assessment

Summary

The discussion shows remarkable consensus among all speakers regarding the Pax Silica initiative, U.S.-India strategic partnership, and the importance of technological cooperation. All speakers – from both U.S. and Indian sides – expressed unified support for the partnership, shared concerns about supply chain security, and agreement on India’s technological capabilities and trustworthiness.

Disagreement level

No significant disagreements were identified. The discussion represents a ceremonial signing event where all participants were aligned on the strategic objectives. The absence of disagreement reflects the formal, diplomatic nature of the event and the shared commitment to the Pax Silica initiative. This high level of consensus suggests strong bilateral alignment on technology policy and strategic cooperation, though it may also indicate that more contentious implementation details were not discussed in this public forum.

Partial agreements

The enabling environment for digital development | Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs

Takeaways

Key takeaways

India formally joined the Pax Silica coalition, marking a historic milestone in U.S.-India strategic partnership for secure and resilient technology ecosystems

The partnership represents a shift from weaponized dependency to economic security as national security, with both nations rejecting coercive supply chain practices

Major technology investments are being made: Google’s $15 billion infrastructure investment including AI Hub in Vizag and subsea cable initiatives, and Micron’s $2.75 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gujarat

India brings significant technological capabilities to the partnership, including 315 semiconductor design tool capabilities globally and a trusted status built on 5000 years of civilizational stability

The collaboration spans the full technology stack from critical mineral extraction to AI deployment, positioning free democracies to control commanding heights of global technology

AI development requires increased memory and storage capabilities, making semiconductor partnerships crucial for future technological advancement

Resolutions and action items

Pax Silica Declaration was formally signed by representatives from both countries during the ceremony

Google committed to contributing 22 Gemma models to AI Coach and working with Indian government on AI applications for agriculture, healthcare, and multilingual services

Google’s AI skill house initiative aims to equip 10 million future Indian leaders with AI tools

Micron’s Gujarat facility (500,000 square feet) will begin advanced packaging and assembly operations soon

India-America Connect Initiative will deliver new subsea cable routes connecting U.S., India, and Southern Hemisphere locations

Unresolved issues

Specific implementation timelines for many of the announced initiatives were not detailed

Details about how the Pax Silica coalition will operationally function and coordinate activities among member nations

Specific mechanisms for ensuring supply chain security and preventing economic coercion were not elaborated

The fireside conversation mentioned at the end was set to begin but the transcript cuts off before its content

Suggested compromises

Impact

This comment grounded the lofty rhetoric in strategic reality, making clear that Pax Silica is fundamentally about building collective strength rather than just economic cooperation. It validated India’s security concerns and positioned them as assets to the partnership.

Overall assessment

Explanation

Both mentioned significant investments but provided limited details on completion timelines, operational milestones, or how these investments align with Pax Silica objectives.

Disclaimer: This is not an official session record. DiploAI generates these resources from audiovisual recordings, and they are presented as-is, including potential errors. Due to logistical challenges, such as discrepancies in audio/video or transcripts, names may be misspelled. We strive for accuracy to the best of our ability.

Keynote Adresses at India AI Impact Summit 2026

Summary

Keypoints

Speakers

Joint responsibility to ensure AI benefits all

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Deployment of Google AI products for Indian consumers and developers

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

AI skilling program for 10 million future Indian leaders

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

$15 billion infrastructure investment – AI Hub and subsea cable

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Pax Silica as framework for secure, resilient tech ecosystem

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Roadmap rejecting weaponized dependency and linking economic security to national security

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Over‑concentrated global supply chains create vulnerability

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Coalition to secure the full silicon stack and leverage India’s talent/mineral capacity

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Building a coalition of free nations to prevent coercive dependencies

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Memory and storage as critical AI enablers

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Micron’s R&D presence, patents and inventor community in India

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

$2.75 billion investment in Gujarat for advanced packaging, assembly and testing

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

India’s trusted status and strategic contribution to Pax Silica

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Developing domestic capability and scale for advanced technology design

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Formalizing commitment through Paxillica signing ceremony

Explanation

Evidence

Major discussion point

Topics

Welcoming U.S. collaborators and reinforcing bilateral cooperation

AI skilling program for 10 million future Indian leaders

$15 billion infrastructure investment – AI Hub and subsea cable

$2.75 billion investment in Gujarat for advanced packaging, assembly and testing