In a powerful keynote at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai declared that artificial intelligence represents the most significant technological evolution of our time, stating, “No technology has me dreaming bigger than AI.” Speaking on February 19, 2026, to a gathering of world leaders and industry titans at Bharat Mandapam, Pichai framed AI as a “generational platform shift” capable of solving humanity’s most stubborn challenges, from curing diseases to mitigating climate change. He cited the success of Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold, which has now assisted over three million researchers in developing malaria vaccines and fighting antibiotic resistance, as a prime example of how AI can compress decades of scientific research into months.
Pichai’s vision for 2026 and beyond is anchored in the idea of “hyper-progress,” where AI enables emerging economies to leapfrog traditional development gaps. During his address, he announced that Google is doubling down on its commitment to the region with a $15 billion infrastructure investment, including a massive, gigawatt-scale AI hub in Visakhapatnam. This facility is designed to serve as a nerve center for sovereign AI development, connected by a new network of international subsea cables. However, while expressing profound optimism, Pichai also delivered a necessary reality check: the positive outcomes of this “intelligence century” are not automatic. He urged a collaborative framework between governments and tech giants to ensure that the transition remains inclusive, emphasizing that the industry must be “bold yet responsible” to prevent a digital divide from becoming an insurmountable AI divide.
Addressing the anxiety surrounding labor markets, Pichai noted that while AI will “undeniably reshape” the global workforce, it will also birth entirely new career paths that are currently unimaginable. He compared this shift to the rise of the digital creator economy two decades ago, pointing to Google’s initiative to train 100 million people in advanced digital skills as the blueprint for future-proofing society. As the summit concluded, the message from the Google chief was clear: the world is at the cusp of a new era of discovery, and the success of this mission depends on humanity’s willingness to work together. “We have the opportunity to improve lives at a once-in-a-generation scale,” Pichai concluded, “and looking at the leaders here today, I believe we have the will to do it.”
