What does it take to compete in the global AI race — ambition, money, or something even bigger?
India believes the answer is all three. And now, it’s betting big on a futuristic “data city” in Visakhapatnam.
A coastal city better known for cricket matches than cutting-edge technology.
Leading the charge is Nara Lokesh, who is crystal clear about the stakes.
“The AI revolution is here, no second thoughts about it,” he said.
His state, Andhra Pradesh, wants to transform Vizag into a digital powerhouse — not just for India, but for the world.
The numbers are staggering. Investment deals worth $175 billion are already lined up.
AI Hub Ambitions
Google alone plans to pour $15 billion into what could become its largest AI infrastructure hub outside the United States.
Meanwhile, a partnership involving Reliance Industries, Brookfield, and Digital Realty is adding another $11 billion for massive data centres.
But this isn’t just about buildings filled with servers.
Lokesh wants the “whole nine yards” — from submarine cables to cooling systems, even factories that build the hardware itself.
The real question? Can a quiet port city reinvent itself as India’s Silicon Valley — and help reshape the global balance of AI power?
