Digital
After Microsoft, Amazon and Google pledge billions to India’s AI-first future
INDIA: Major US tech giants are betting heavily on India’s AI future. Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it would invest $17.5bn in the country’s cloud and artificial-intelligence infrastructure over four years, its largest-ever investment in Asia. Today, Amazon pledged to pump more than $35bn into India by 2030, building on the $40bn it has already spent since 2010. Google has lined up $15 billion for AI data-centre expansion, adding to India’s growing pull as a destination for high-end digital infrastructure.
Microsoft’s pledge, made after chief executive Satya Nadella met prime minister Narendra Modi, aims to expand hyperscale infrastructure, embed AI in national platforms and train 20 million Indians in AI by 2030, and grow its 22,000-strong workforce in the country. Microsoft’s Azure AI will also be integrated into labour and careers platforms run by the government.
Amazon’s investments will focus on expanding AI capabilities, enhancing logistics infrastructure and supporting small businesses. The e-commerce giant, which competes fiercely with Walmart-backed Flipkart and the retail arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, aims to create 1 million additional jobs by 2030. It also plans to boost cumulative exports for Indian sellers from $20bn over the past decade to $80bn by 2030.
In a statement, Amazon said that its investments are “strategically aligned with India’s national priorities and will focus on expanding AI capabilities, enhancing logistics infrastructure, supporting small business growth, and creating jobs.”
India has also drawn an $8 billion commitment from Amazon Web Services and a raft of chip proposals worth more than $18 billion under its semiconductor mission.
The country’s vast market, swelling digital base and state-funded platforms have turned it into fertile ground for firms seeking scale. A visit by Intel boss Lip-Bu Tan and the chipmaker’s new pact with Tata Electronics underscore India’s determination to catch up in advanced technologies.
Digital
OpenAI’s Stargate lead Peter Hoeschele exits with two senior leaders
Trio behind compute push set to join new startup amid leadership reshuffle
SAN FRANCISCO: Peter Hoeschele, a key figure behind OpenAI’s early Stargate data centre initiative, has exited the company, according to a report by The Information.
The departure is part of a broader leadership shift, with two other senior executives, Shamez Hemani and Anuj Saharan, also set to leave in the coming days. All three are expected to join the same new startup, although details about the venture remain under wraps.
The trio played a central role in OpenAI’s Stargate effort, an initiative aimed at building large-scale data centre capacity in-house to reduce reliance on external infrastructure providers. Their exits mark a notable moment for the company’s compute strategy as it continues to scale rapidly.
OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to The Information, “We’re grateful for the contributions Peter, Shamez, and Anuj have made to OpenAI and wish them the very best in what comes next.” The company also pointed to the recent appointment of Sachin Katti to lead its industrial compute organisation, signalling continuity in its infrastructure roadmap.
OpenAI has indicated that it does not plan to directly replace Hoeschele’s role, suggesting a possible restructuring of responsibilities within the team.
As competition intensifies in the race to build next-generation AI systems, leadership changes in core infrastructure teams are likely to draw close attention. For now, the spotlight shifts to what this departing trio builds next, and how OpenAI adapts as it scales its ambitions.
