In a landmark initiative that reinforces India’s commitment to leveraging technology for social impact, Google Cloud India and the TechBharat Research Foundation have jointly inaugurated the nation’s first AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Public Good in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Announced on October 10, 2025, the CoE is designed to drive innovation in artificial intelligence to address critical public sector challenges while strengthening India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
This collaboration establishes Visakhapatnam—already emerging as a hub for governance, education, and technology—as a nucleus for developing scalable, ethical AI solutions tailored to the needs of government bodies, civic organizations, and citizens.
Vision and Mission of the AI CoE
Core Objectives
- Develop deployable AI models for public sector applications
- Foster responsible and ethical AI adoption
- Build a skilled AI talent pipeline through hands-on training
- Support the IndiaAI Mission and national Digital India goals
Focus Areas
The CoE will prioritize solving challenges across key public domains:
- Disaster Management
- Predictive analytics for natural calamities
- AI-enabled emergency response systems
- Industries & Commerce
- Supply chain optimization
- MSME productivity enhancement
- Education
- Personalized learning tools
- Teacher support systems
- Citizen Services
- Automated grievance redressal
- Improved service delivery mechanisms
- Real-Time Governance
- Data-driven policy making
- Transparent and efficient administration
Key Initiatives and Programs
TechBharat AI Fellowship
- Duration: 120-day full-time immersive program
- Cohort Size: 80+ fellows and 100+ interns annually
- Starts: October 2025
- Benefits:
- Monthly stipends and accommodation
- Hands-on AI prototyping with government departments
- Mentorship from industry and domain experts
National AI Hackathons for Public Good
- First edition scheduled for late 2025
- Focus on solving real-world public sector problems
- Participation open to students, professionals, and researchers
Google for Startups Cloud Program
- Infrastructure Access: Google Cloud credits and resources
- Technical Mentorship: Guidance from Google engineers and AI specialists
- Business Support: Go-to-market strategies and scaling advice
Strategic Importance and Alignment
Supporting IndiaAI Mission
The CoE directly contributes to the IndiaAI Mission by:
- Building domestic capacity in AI research and application
- Creating reusable AI assets for public good
- Promoting innovation in strategic sectors
Strengthening Digital Public Infrastructure
- Developing AI layers atop India Stack (UPI, Aadhaar, etc.)
- Enhancing efficiency and accessibility of public services
- Ensuring ethical and inclusive AI deployment
Boosting Andhra Pradesh’s Tech Ecosystem
- Follows Google’s ₹88,000 crore investment in AI and data centers in AP
- Positions Visakhapatnam as a leading AI innovation hub
- Creates high-skilled employment opportunities
Expected Impact and Outcomes
Short-term (2025–2026)
- 80+ AI prototypes developed for public sector use cases
- 180+ professionals trained through the fellowship program
- 10+ government departments engaged as implementation partners
- First hackathon yielding actionable solutions
Medium-term (2027–2028)
- Scalable AI solutions deployed across multiple states
- 1,000+ AI professionals skilled through expanded programs
- Policy recommendations for ethical AI in public sector
- International collaborations with similar initiatives
Long-term (2030+)
- Nationwide impact through replicated models
- Global recognition as a model for public-good AI
- Self-sustaining ecosystem of AI innovation
Leadership Perspectives
Sridhar Gadhi, Founder, TechBharat
“This isn’t just a partnership; it’s India’s clarion call to lead global ethical AI for public impact! We’re creating a pipeline of talent and technology that will transform how government serves citizens.”
Ashish Wattal, Director of Public Sector, Google Cloud India
Implementation Framework
Infrastructure and Resources
- State-of-the-art facilities in Visakhapatnam
- Google Cloud infrastructure for model training and deployment
- Collaboration spaces for government, industry, and academia
Governance Structure
- Steering Committee with representatives from both organizations
- Advisory Board comprising domain experts and policymakers
- Project Review Panels for solution evaluation and selection
Knowledge Management
- Open-source repositories for AI models and datasets
- Case study documentation of successful implementations
- Best practice guides for ethical AI deployment
Partnership Synergies
Google Cloud’s Contribution
- Technical Expertise: AI/ML specialists and solution architects
- Cloud Resources: Computing power and storage infrastructure
- Global Insights: Lessons from similar initiatives worldwide
- Developer Ecosystem: Access to Google’s partner network
TechBharat’s Role
- Domain Knowledge: Understanding of public sector challenges
- Fellowship Management: Program design and execution
- Government Liaison: Partnership development and coordination
- Community Building: Engaging stakeholders across sectors
Opportunities for Participation
For Students and Professionals
- Apply for the TechBharat AI Fellowship
- Participate in AI hackathons and challenges
- Access learning resources and mentorship
For Government Agencies
- Propose problem statements for AI solutions
- Collaborate on pilot deployments
- Provide domain expertise and data access
For Academic Institutions
- Curriculum development partnerships
- Research collaborations on public-good AI
- Student internship opportunities
For Startups and Enterprises
- Technology adoption from CoE innovations
- Collaborative projects with government departments
- Talent acquisition from fellowship programs
Conclusion: Pioneering Ethical AI for Social Transformation
The launch of India’s first AI Centre of Excellence for Public Good in Visakhapatnam marks a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward technological self-reliance and social empowerment. By combining Google Cloud’s technological prowess with TechBharat’s grassroots connectivity and government partnerships, this initiative has the potential to:
- Democratize AI benefits across society
- Accelerate digital transformation in public services
- Establish India as a global leader in ethical AI
- Inspire similar initiatives across developing nations