6 hrs ago
Microsoft India Invests in AI Infrastructure as Chandok Outlines Future
Microsoft is putting a lot of money into artificial intelligence and cloud computers in India.
The company says people should remain in control of AI.
It also says AI should be designed with safety and privacy protections from the beginning.
Microsoft has many engineers working in India to build new technology.
It opened a new cloud center in Hyderabad.
This center uses air cooling and almost no water.
Microsoft says many Indian workers are already using AI in meaningful ways.
AI may do repetitive tasks, while people spend more time on creative and valuable work.
Chandok believes India could become an important place for building AI infrastructure for the region.
Microsoft has committed $17.5 billion in fresh Indian cloud and AI investment for 2026–29, raising its total pledge to $20.5 billion.
Microsoft India President Puneet Chandok said AI should serve humanity, with humans retaining control and safeguards built into systems.
The company employs more than 23,000 engineers across 10 Indian cities and operates its largest research and development lab outside the United States.
Microsoft launched its fourth Indian cloud region in Hyderabad, joining facilities in Pune, Chennai and Mumbai, with effectively zero-water cooling.
Chandok said India is becoming a major AI market and talent hub, while AI is changing jobs rather than simply eliminating them.
- Who
- Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok discussed Microsoft’s AI strategy and investments in India.
- What
- Microsoft outlined its human-centered AI principles, announced major infrastructure investment, and launched a fourth Indian cloud region.
- Where
- India, including Microsoft’s new cloud region in Hyderabad.
- When
- The interview and Hyderabad cloud-region launch were reported on Monday; the $17.5 billion investment was announced in December 2025.
- Why
- Microsoft aims to expand cloud and AI infrastructure, support adoption and innovation, and develop AI with human control and built-in safeguards.
Key facts
- Fresh investment
- $17.5 billion for India’s cloud and AI infrastructure, skilling and operations during 2026–29.
- Total Microsoft pledge
- $20.5 billion after the new commitment.
- Indian engineering workforce
- More than 23,000 engineers across 10 cities.
- Cloud regions
- Four in India: Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Mumbai.
- AI adoption among knowledge workers
- 92% of Indian knowledge workers reportedly use AI meaningfully.
- Enterprise AI scaling
- 40% of Indian enterprises are beginning to scale AI.
- Data and capacity gap
- India generates 20% of global data but has about 3% of data-center capacity; capacity could grow from roughly 2 GW to 12–14 GW.
Quotes
Puneet Chandok
Microsoft India and South Asia President
“I won't comment on what the labs are saying, but at Microsoft, our belief and our principle is simple, which is AI has to be built in the service of humanity, AI has to serve humanity, and humans have to be in control of AI at all times”
rediff.com
“our focus is on diffusion, building this in a secure, sustainable way, if you're building technologies that can change the world, you have to build it responsibly, and that's what we're committed to doing.”
rediff.com
Sources
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