Google To Establish Global Fintech Centre In Gujarat; Microsoft Explores AI Use Cases For Indians

Google has announced its plans to establish a global fintech centre in Gujarat, a state located in western India and that it will keep making investments 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 made these remarks after having a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter's three-day state visit to the US.

Satya Nadella, the chairman and CEO of Microsoft, also had a meeting with an Indian delegation in Washington, DC, which included the prime minister.

"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.

According to Microsoft, India is home to one of the "most vibrant developer and start-up ecosystems in the world," and the company is "deeply committed to the growth of Indian technology - that will impact both India and markets across the globe."

Pichai praised the Prime Minister's vision for Digital India, calling it "ahead of its time" and said that other nations are now looking to it as a "blueprint that they are looking to do so."

According to a tweet from the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi and Pichai "discussed measures like artificial intelligence, fintech, and promoting research and development."

They also addressed how Google and Indian academic institutions may work together to advance talent development and research.