In perhaps one of the biggest tech collaborations this year, Google has partnered with Reliance Industries. Combined, they provide Jio users in India with completely free access to AI Pro services. This new initiative affords our millions of subscribers access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools. Outwardly, it shows that the government is committed to using AI technologies, thus establishing India as a massive market for these technologies.
According to the deal, Jio users will get 18 months of free access to AI Pro. This invaluable service is priced at ₹35,100 (approximately $396). In a press release, Sundar Pichai, the new CEO of Google and Alphabet, underscored the importance of this deal. He mentioned that it will help connect consumers, businesses, and developers all across India with Google’s cutting-edge AI tools.
This announcement complements Google’s ConnectHome initiative announced earlier this year. The company provided one year’s free AI Pro plans to Indian students for free. The tech giant’s decision to expand its services aligns with the rapid adoption of AI technologies in India, which has become the world’s most populous nation and the second-largest internet market, boasting over a billion users.
India’s already impressive openness to U.S.-led AI platforms like Google’s new tools, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Anthropic’s Claude has broken records. These platforms have achieved extraordinary user adoption, which is a clear signal that there is demand for new technologies. OpenAI is building a team in India to focus on understanding local user needs and building more regional power and reach. In much the same vein, Anthropic recently announced plans to open an office in India and work closely with Reliance.
“Through our collaboration with strategic and long-term partners like Google, we aim to make India not just AI-enabled but AI-empowered – where every citizen and enterprise can harness intelligent tools to create, innovate and grow.” – Mukesh Ambani
Furthermore, this isn’t the only undertaking of Google’s in India that alludes to this partnership. The company’s introductory product, “Nano Banana,” has created a huge buzz, reportedly bringing in over 7 million active users. This is a testimony to Google’s strong dedication to attracting Indian consumers and better serving them through improved technological interactions.
To OpenAI’s credit, though, they’re not abandoning government collaboration — quite the opposite. Starting from November 4, they will be providing free access to their upcoming mobile ChatGPT Go plan to users in India. This plan went live on the ground locally in August. It has since grown to 17 member countries across Asia, underscoring the region’s growing importance to the global AI ecosystem.
Google and Microsoft aren’t the only tech giants investing in India’s AI landscape. For instance, Perplexity has partnered with Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator, to provide free access to Perplexity Pro for Airtel’s 360 million subscribers. These moves reflect a competitive landscape where U.S. tech giants are vying for a foothold in India’s burgeoning technology sector.
While there’s increasing interest from international companies, India still hasn’t produced a significant homegrown breakthrough in AI. The level of enthusiasm and investment from these tech giants is staggering. This increase is a further sign that India is poised to be the next major frontier for AI development.
