Keynote-Sundar Pichai
19 Feb 2026 10:00h - 10:15h
Keynote-Sundar Pichai
Summary
The ceremony began with Speaker 1 introducing Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, as the keynote speaker on AI [1-6]. Pichai thanked Prime Minister Modi and Indian leaders, noting the rapid change he sees on each visit to India [8-11]. He recalled riding the Coromandel Express to IIT Kharagpur and passing through Vizag, now the site of Google’s $15 billion full-stack AI hub in India [12-16]. Calling AI “the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes,” he said it can drive hyper-progress for emerging economies if pursued boldly and responsibly [21-26].
Over three million researchers in 190 countries already use Google’s open AI tools for malaria vaccines, antibiotic resistance, and DNA disease-marker studies [27-30]. He cited affordable AI diagnosis in El Salvador, AI-driven forecasts that reached Indian farmers, and language-inclusion projects in Ghana as proof of impact [31-36]. To prevent a digital-to-AI divide, Google is investing in compute, subsea fiber, and new hubs in Thailand, Malaysia and elsewhere [37-41]. Acknowledging workforce shifts, he noted 100 million people have been trained in digital skills and announced a global AI Professional Certificate [42-46]. Trust tools such as SynthID are being deployed to help journalists verify content authenticity [47-48].
He urged collaboration, stating governments must regulate, innovate, and accelerate AI-enabled public services [51-52]. Examples include Uganda’s AI-driven electrification mapping and Memphis’s AI pothole-detection system [52]. Pichai closed by thanking the audience and emphasizing that joint effort is essential to unlock AI’s benefits responsibly [53-54].
Keypoints
Major discussion points
– Large-scale AI infrastructure investments in India and worldwide – Google is building a gigawatt-scale AI hub in Vizag, along with subsea cable gateways, and is extending similar compute and connectivity projects to Thailand, Malaysia and the U.S.-India “America-India Connect” initiative[15-17][40-41].
– AI as a tool for social good and inclusion – The company highlights AI-driven research on malaria vaccines and antibiotic resistance, affordable AI-powered health diagnostics in El Salvador, AI-enhanced weather forecasts for Indian farmers, and open-source language tools for over 20 African languages in Ghana[28-30][31-34][35-36].
– Responsibility, trust, and the need to bridge the digital/AI divide – Emphasis is placed on investing in compute and connectivity to avoid an “AI divide,” creating verification tools like SynthID, and urging governments to set regulations while also using AI in public services[37-39][47-49][50-52].
– Workforce transformation and education – AI will reshape jobs; Google has already trained 100 million people in digital skills and is launching a globally-available Google AI Professional Certificate to help workers master AI competencies[43-46].
– A call for bold, collaborative action – The speaker frames AI as the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes, urging bold ambition paired with responsible development and partnership between industry and governments to realize AI’s full benefits[24-26][50-52].
Overall purpose or goal
The keynote aims to announce Google’s strategic AI investments and initiatives, showcase concrete examples of AI delivering societal benefits, and persuade stakeholders-particularly governments and the broader public-to join a responsible, inclusive effort that maximizes AI’s potential while mitigating risks.
Overall tone
The address begins with an enthusiastic, visionary tone, celebrating rapid progress and ambitious projects (e.g., the Vizag hub, “hyper-progress”). Midway it shifts to a more measured, responsible tone, stressing equity, trust, and the need for regulation. It concludes with a collaborative, rally-calling tone, urging collective action and partnership to harness AI for the greater good. The progression moves from optimism to cautious responsibility, ending on a unifying, hopeful note.
Speakers
– Sundar Pichai – Role/Title: CEO, Alphabet and Google; Area of Expertise: Technology, Artificial Intelligence [S2]
– Speaker 1 – Role/Title: Event moderator/host; Area of Expertise: (not specified) [S3][S5]
Additional speakers:
– Mr. Dario Amote – Role/Title: (not specified) (referenced as having given the preceding address)
– Prime Minister Modi – Role/Title: Prime Minister of India [S2]
The ceremony opened with the host thanking the previous speaker, Mr Dario Amote, and formally introducing Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet and Google, as the keynote presenter [1-6][7]. Pichai began with a warm “Namaste,” expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and other Indian leaders, and said each visit reinforces his sense of India’s rapid transformation [8-11].
He recalled a student-era journey on the Coromandel Express from Chennai to IIT Kharagpur, passing through the coastal city of Vishakhapatnam (Vizag). He contrasted the modest town he once knew with Google’s plan to build a full-stack AI hub there, part of a US$15 billion infrastructure programme that will host gigawatt-scale compute capacity and a new international subsea-cable gateway [12-16]. He joked that he is still “working on that one” – an autonomous-car prototype that could run on India’s “zeroes” – illustrating his belief that “the progress shows what’s possible when humanity dreams big.” [17-19]
Framing AI as “the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes,” he argued that bold ambition combined with responsible development can drive “hyper-progress” and help emerging economies leap-frog legacy gaps. He noted that the outcome is neither guaranteed nor automatic, and that a collaborative, responsible approach is essential [21-26][24-25].
He highlighted the scientific impact of Google’s open-source AI models, now used by more than three million researchers in over 190 countries, accelerating work on malaria vaccines, combating antibiotic resistance, and mapping DNA disease markers [27-30][S1][S37].
Pichai then described concrete AI-for-social-good projects: in El Salvador, Google partners with the government to deliver affordable AI-powered diagnosis and treatment; in India, AI-driven weather forecasts are broadcast to millions of farmers for the first time using Google’s neural-network global climate model; and in Ghana, the company works with universities and NGOs to open-source tools for more than twenty African languages, advancing linguistic inclusion [31-36][S38][S39].
To prevent a “digital divide” from becoming an “AI divide,” he outlined massive investments in compute infrastructure and connectivity. The Vizag hub will be complemented by similar projects in Thailand and Malaysia, and by a network of subsea fibre-optic systems, including four new US-India links under the “America-India Connect” initiative announced the previous day [37-41][S9][S14].
Addressing the labour-market impact of AI, he noted that the technology will automate some roles, reshape others, and create entirely new careers. Google has already trained 100 million people in digital skills and is launching a globally-available Google AI Professional Certificate to help workers acquire AI competencies for future jobs [42-46][S44][S45].
Trust, he argued, is the foundation of widespread AI adoption. Google has introduced SynthID, a tool that enables journalists and citizen fact-checkers to verify the authenticity of digital content, thereby combating misinformation and reinforcing confidence in AI-generated media [47-48][49-50].
He called on governments to act as both regulators and innovators, urging clear rules of the road and integration of AI into public services. He cited Uganda’s use of AI and satellite imagery to prioritise electrification projects and Memphis, Tennessee’s AI-driven pothole-detection system that streamlines road-maintenance operations [51-53][52].
He concluded by thanking the audience and urging collective, bold, and responsible action to realise AI’s full benefits for a more inclusive, prosperous future. [50-54]
Thank you, Mr. Dario Amote, for that illuminating address. Ladies and gentlemen, it is our privilege now to welcome Shisunder Pichai, CEO, Alphabet and Google, for the keynote address. We look forward to his introduction. Thank you, Mr. Dario Amote, for that illuminating address. Ladies and gentlemen, it is our privilege now to welcome Shisunder Pichai, CEO, Alphabet and Google, for the keynote address. We look forward to his insights on the evolving role of artificial intelligence. Mr. Shisunder Pichai.
Namaste. Thank you. Thank you. Prime Minister Modi and distinguished leaders. It’s wonderful to be back in India. Every time I visit I’m struck by the pace of change and today is no different. Back when I was a student I often took the Coromandel Express train from Chennai up to IIT Kharagpur. To get there we passed through Vishakhapatnam, Vizag. I remember it being a quiet and modest coastal city brimming with potential. Now in that same city Google is establishing a full stack AI hub, part of our 15 billion dollar infrastructure investment in India. When finished this hub will house gigawatt scale compute and a new international subsea cable gateway bringing jobs and cutting -edge AI to people and businesses across India.
Sitting on that train I never imagined Vizag becoming a global AI hub, just as I couldn’t have imagined. that one day I’d be spending time with teams figuring out how to put data centers into space or taking my parents for a fully autonomous car. If it worked on India’s zeroes. Still working on that one, Dad. The progress shows what’s possible when humanity dreams big. And no technology has me dreaming bigger than AI. It is the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes. We are on the cusp of hyper -progress and new discoveries that can help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps. The outcome is neither guaranteed nor automatic. To build AI that is truly helpful for everyone, we must pursue it boldly, approach it responsibly, and work through this defining moment together.
Why bold? Because AI can improve billions of lives and solve some of the hardest problems in science. For 50 years, decades of research into a database that is now open to the world. Today, over 3 million researchers in more than 190 countries are using it to develop malaria vaccines, fight antibiotic resistance, and much more. And we are asking similarly bold questions across the scientific stack, from cataloging DNA disease markers to building AI agents that act as true partners in the scientific method. We must be equally bold in tackling problems in regions that have lacked access to technology. Take El Salvador, where Google has partnered with the government to bring affordable AI -powered diagnosis and treatment, to thousands who could never afford to see a doctor.
Or in India, where a work -together is helping farmers. protect their livelihoods in the face of monsoons. Last summer, for the first time, the Indian government sent AI -powered forecasts to millions of farmers, possible in part because of our neural GCM model. I see language inclusion as another exciting ambition. In Ghana, we are collaborating with universities and NGOs to expand research and open -source tools across more than 20 African languages. We need this bold thinking in more places to tackle more problems across health, education, economic opportunity, and more. Technology brings incredible benefits, but we must ensure everyone has access to them. We cannot allow the digital divide to become an AI divide. That means investing in compute infrastructure and connectivity.
I mentioned our Vizag investment, and we have others in Thailand, Malaysia, and more. We are also building a vast network of subsea fiber optic systems, and we are working with the government including four new systems between the US and India, as part of our America -India Connect initiative announced yesterday. Responsibility also means navigating profound economic shifts. AI will undeniably reshape the workforce, automating some roles, evolving others, and creating entirely new careers. Twenty years ago, the concept of a professional YouTube creator didn’t exist. Today, there are millions around the world. Training is crucial. We have trained 100 million people in digital skills, and our new Google AI Professional Certificate will help people master AI in their jobs, available globally.
Finally, trust is the bedrock of adoption. We have created tools like SynthID used by journalists and citizen fact -checkers globally to help verify the authenticity of the content you read and see. But no matter how bold we are or how responsible, we won’t realize AI is not the answer. We will never realize AI’s full benefits unless we work together. together. Governments have a vital role that includes as regulators setting important rules of the road and addressing key risks and importantly also as innovators bringing AI to public services that improve lives and accelerating adoption of these technologies for people and businesses. There are glimmers of this from around the globe from the Ugandan government using AI and satellite imagery to locate priority areas for electrification to getting potholes fixed for residents more efficiently in Memphis, Tennessee by using AI scans of road surfaces from buses.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
“Pichai opened his address with a warm “Namaste,” thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian leaders, and expressed amazement at India’s rapid transformation.”
The transcript excerpt [S55] records Pichai saying “Namaste… Thank you Prime Minister Modi… wonderful to be back in India… every time I visit I’m struck by the pace of change,” confirming the claim.
“He recalled traveling as a student on the Coromandel Express from Chennai to IIT Kharagpur, passing through the coastal city of Vishakhapatnam (Vizag).”
The same excerpt [S55] mentions Pichai’s recollection of taking the Coromandel Express train from Chennai up to IIT Kharagpur and passing through Vizag.
“Google is investing US$15 billion to build a full‑stack AI hub in Visakhapatnam, featuring gigawatt‑scale compute capacity and a new international subsea‑cable gateway.”
Multiple sources ([S9], [S54], [S56]) describe a $15 billion commitment to a full-stack AI hub in Vizag with gigawatt-scale data-centre campus and a subsea cable gateway, confirming the claim.
“The $15 billion AI hub investment is part of a 2026‑2030 programme.”
Source [S56] specifies that the $15 billion commitment spans 2026-2030, providing timeline detail not mentioned in the report.
“Pichai joked that he is still “working on that one” – an autonomous‑car prototype that could run on India’s “zeroes.””
The remark about still “working on that” autonomous-car prototype is captured in [S57], confirming the joke.
“He described AI as “the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes” and spoke of “hyper‑progress” that could help emerging economies leap‑frog legacy gaps.”
The keynote transcript [S11] includes language about “hyper-progress” and the transformative potential of AI, supporting the claim, though the exact phrase “biggest platform shift” is not verbatim.
“The Vizag hub will be complemented by similar AI infrastructure projects in Thailand and Malaysia, and by a network of subsea fibre‑optic systems, including four new US‑India links under the “America‑India Connect” initiative.”
Source [S9] mentions additional investments in Thailand and Malaysia and a subsea fibre-optic network with four new US-India links under the America-India Connect initiative, confirming the claim.
There is clear alignment between the host’s framing of the keynote and Sundar Pichai’s extensive discussion on AI’s transformative potential, responsible deployment, and inclusive access.
High consensus; the shared emphasis on AI’s importance and the need for bold yet responsible action suggests strong agreement that AI should be a central, inclusive driver of development.
The transcript shows a high degree of consensus between the two participants. Speaker 1’s introductory remarks and Sundar Pichai’s keynote both converge on the importance of AI for societal progress, without any contradictory statements or competing policy prescriptions.
Minimal disagreement – the interaction is essentially collaborative, indicating that the discussion is likely to proceed without substantive conflict, which facilitates a unified narrative around AI’s role in development and the need for responsible, inclusive deployment.
The keynote’s momentum is driven by a series of strategically placed, thought‑provoking statements that move the audience from awe at AI’s scale to concrete considerations of equity, trust, and governance. Each highlighted comment introduces a new dimension—hardware infrastructure, platform‑shift framing, ethical boldness, real‑world health and agricultural impacts, linguistic inclusion, digital‑AI divide, workforce reskilling, verification tools, and government partnership. These pivots continually broaden the conversation, preventing it from staying purely promotional and instead fostering a nuanced, multi‑layered dialogue about how AI can be responsibly harnessed for global good.
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.
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