What Amazon, Google, And Microsoft Announced After PM's 'Hi-Tech Handshake'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the US was marked by a series of meetings with the top leaders of the world's largest democracy and economy, as well as with some of the most influential CEOs of the global tech industry. As part of this effort, PM Modi and President Joe Biden attended a special event called the India-US "Hi-Tech Handshake" at the White House, where they engaged in discussions with CEOs from Indian and American tech companies and startups. The event focused on the themes of "AI for All" and "Manufacturing for Mankind."

The event was an opportunity for both leaders to review the deepening technology collaboration between India and the US, and to explore ways of leveraging the existing linkages between the two tech ecosystems, India's talented workforce and advances made by India in Digital Public Infrastructure, to build global collaborations. They also underscored that India-US partnership would play an instrumental role in building a better future for their people and for the world.

Following the event, three US tech giants - Amazon, Google, and Microsoft - announced major investments and initiatives in India that would boost the growth of Indian technology and innovation.

 Amazon

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy met with PM Modi and spoke about supporting Indian startups, creating jobs, enabling exports, digitisation, and empowering individuals and small businesses to compete globally. Amazon has pledged to digitise 10 million small businesses, enable $20 billion in exports, and create 2 million jobs in India by 2025. Currently, Amazon India is on track to deliver on them, having already digitised over 6.2 million small businesses, enabled over $7 billion in exports, and created over 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs.

Amazon also announced that it will invest an additional $15 billion in India over the next seven years, which will take the company's total India investment across all businesses to $26 billion. This investment will help Amazon expand its e-commerce, cloud computing, digital payments, content streaming, and other services in India.

Google

Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared with PM Modi that Google is investing $10 billion in India's digitisation fund, which aims to accelerate India's digital transformation and enable affordable access to information for every Indian in their own language¹. Google also announced that it will open its global fintech operation centre in GIFT City, Gujarat². This centre will provide support for Google's fintech products and services across the world.

Google also discussed with PM Modi its ongoing efforts to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) for social good in India. Google has partnered with several Indian organisations to apply AI to solve challenges in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and disaster management. For instance, Google has collaborated with AI4Bharat, a government-backed initiative, to power Jugalbandi, a new generative AI-driven chatbot on mobile devices for government assistance. Jugalbandi can understand questions in multiple languages, whether spoken or typed. It retrieves information on relevant programs - usually written in English - and relays it back in local language.

Microsoft

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella discussed with PM Modi the power of technology, particularly AI, to help improve the lives of Indians. He said that "India is home to one of the most vibrant developer and start-up ecosystems in the world, and Microsoft remains deeply committed to the growth of Indian technology - that will impact both India and markets across the globe". Microsoft also expressed its support for PM Modi's vision of "AI for All", which aims to democratise AI for inclusive development.

Microsoft also highlighted some of its initiatives and collaborations in India that leverage its cloud computing platform Azure and its AI services. For example, Microsoft has partnered with Apollo Hospitals to create an AI-powered Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score API that can predict the risk of heart disease among Indians. Microsoft has also worked with NITI Aayog to deploy AI solutions for improving crop yield and soil health for farmers.

Conclusion

The announcements made by Amazon, Google, and Microsoft after PM Modi's "Hi-Tech Handshake" event reflect the growing importance of India as a key market and partner for US tech companies. They also demonstrate the potential of India-US tech cooperation to drive innovation and social impact for both countries and the world. As PM Modi tweeted, "AI is the future, be it Artificial Intelligence or America-India! Our nations are stronger together, our planet is better when we work in collaboration".

Other Tech Companies

Apart from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, several other US and Indian tech companies also participated in the "Hi-Tech Handshake" event and shared their views and plans for enhancing India-US tech collaboration. Some of these companies are:

- Flex: A global manufacturing company that provides design, engineering, and supply chain solutions for various industries. Flex CEO Revathi Advaithi said that Flex is committed to supporting India's vision of becoming a global manufacturing hub and creating millions of jobs in the country. Flex has 11 manufacturing facilities in India and employs over 25,000 people.

- AMD: A leading semiconductor company that designs and produces microprocessors, graphics cards, and other computing devices. AMD CEO Lisa Su said that AMD is proud to partner with India's leading technology companies and institutions to deliver high-performance computing solutions for various applications such as cloud, gaming, education, and research. AMD has a significant presence in India with over 2,000 engineers working across its R&D centres in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

- Planet Labs: A space and analytics company that operates the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and provides data and insights for various sectors such as agriculture, forestry, energy, and disaster response. Planet Labs CEO Will Marshall said that Planet Labs is excited to work with India to harness the power of space technology for social good. Planet Labs has partnered with several Indian organisations such as ISRO, Antrix, DigitalGlobe, and CropIn to provide satellite imagery and analytics for various purposes such as crop monitoring, forest mapping, urban planning, and disaster management.

- Zerodha: India's largest online stock broker and fintech company that offers low-cost trading and investment services to millions of customers. Zerodha Co-Founder Nikhil Kamath said that Zerodha is inspired by PM Modi's vision of financial inclusion and digital empowerment for all Indians. Zerodha has leveraged technology to democratise access to capital markets and financial education in India.

- 3rdiTech: A startup that develops AI-powered wearable devices for visually impaired people. 3rdiTech Co-Founder Vrinda Kapoor said that 3rdiTech is driven by the mission of using AI to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. 3rdiTech has created a smart glasses device that can help visually impaired people navigate their surroundings, recognise faces and objects, read text, and access information through voice commands.

Future Prospects

The "Hi-Tech Handshake" event was a landmark occasion that showcased the strength and diversity of India-US tech partnership. It also opened up new avenues for cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in emerging fields such as biotechnology, quantum computing, clean energy, and space exploration. As President Biden said, "The United States and India are natural partners on a range of vital issues. We're committed to working together to shape new technologies that will benefit our people - but also benefit the world".

The event also highlighted the role of Indian talent and innovation in driving the global tech industry. As PM Modi said, "India's youth are at the forefront of fostering a culture of innovation. They are showing remarkable solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture - you name it". The event also recognised the contribution of Indian-Americans in strengthening the ties between the two countries. As PM Modi said, "The Indian diaspora has enriched both our societies - from Vivekananda to Satya Nadella".

The "Hi-Tech Handshake" event was a testament to the shared vision and values of India and the US as democratic nations that aspire to use technology for social good. As PM Modi said, "Technology can help us overcome real problems. Technology also gives voice to millions around the world". The event also reaffirmed the commitment of both leaders to work together to address global challenges such as climate change, pandemic response, cyber security, and digital inclusion. As President Biden said, "We have a responsibility to demonstrate that democracies can still deliver for our people in this changed world".

The "Hi-Tech Handshake" event was a historic moment that marked a new chapter in India-US relations. It also set the stage for further collaboration and innovation between the two countries in the years ahead.Conclusion

The “Hi-Tech Handshake” event was a milestone in India-US tech partnership that showcased the potential of technology to drive innovation and social impact for both countries and the world. The event also highlighted the role of Indian talent and innovation in shaping the global tech industry and the contribution of Indian-Americans in strengthening the ties between the two countries. The event also reaffirmed the commitment of both leaders to work together to address global challenges such as climate change, pandemic response, cyber security, and digital inclusion. The event also opened up new avenues for cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in emerging fields such as biotechnology, quantum computing, clean energy, and space exploration. The event was a testament to the shared vision and values of India and the US as democratic nations that aspire to use technology for social good. The event was a historic moment that marked a new chapter in India-US relations. It also set the stage for further collaboration and innovation between the two countries in the years ahead.

Source: 

(1) PM’s participation in the India-US Hi-Tech Handshake event. https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pms-participation-in-the-india-us-hi-tech-handshake-event/.

(2) What Amazon, Google, And Microsoft Announced After PM's 'Hi-Tech Handshake'. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/major-announcements-from-us-tech-giants-after-pm-modis-hi-tech-handshake-4148612.

(3) PM Modi attends Hi-tech Handshake says coming together of talent and technology guarantees a brighter future. https://www.newsx.com/pm-modi-attends-hi-tech-handshake-with-ceos/.

(4) PM Narendra Modi, US President Biden meet leading CEOs of tech companies to deepen collaboration. https://www.indiablooms.com/news-details/N/90282/pm-narendra-modi-us-president-biden-meet-leading-ceos-of-tech-companies-to-deepen-collaboration.html.

(5) After PM's 'Hi-Tech Handshake': Exciting reveals from Amazon, Google .... https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news/amazon-google-and-microsoft-make-major-declarations-after-meeting-pm-modi-2023-06-24-877586.