Google to set up global fintech centre in Gujarat; Microsoft to explore AI use cases for Indians

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Saturday said the search giant will open its global fintech operations centre at GIFT City in Gujarat and that Google will continue to invest in India through its $10 billion digitisation fund.

“It (the fintech centre) will cement India’s fintech leadership, thanks to UPI, and Aadhaar. We are going to build on that foundation and take it globally,” Pichai said.

Pichai’s statements come after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his three-day state visit to the US.

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella too met with a delegation of officials from India, including the PM in Washington DC.

“While these conversations were private, one important topic was the power of technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence, to help improve the lives of Indians,” the company said in a statement.

Microsoft said that India is home to one of the “most vibrant developer and start-up ecosystems in the world,” and that it was “deeply committed to the growth of Indian technology – that will impact both India and markets across the globe.”

Pichai lauded the Prime Minister’s vision for Digital India as being ahead of its time and said he now sees it as a “blueprint that other countries are looking to do so”.

The Ministry of External Affairs had said in a tweet that PM Modi interacted with Pichai and “discussed measures like artificial intelligence, fintech and promoting research and development.”

They also discussed collaboration between Google and academic institutions in India to promote research and development, and skill development.