The Google AI Studio application is displayed on a mobile phone with Google in the background, in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on October 26, 2025.
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images
In a move signaling a significant escalation in the AI race within India, Google is poised to offer its Gemini AI service to over 500 million Reliance Jio subscribers. This strategic partnership underscores the increasing importance of the Indian market for global AI powerhouses, all vying for dominance in a rapidly expanding digital landscape.
The U.S. tech giant announced Thursday a collaboration with Reliance Intelligence, a joint venture between Reliance Industries and Meta. The agreement will see Google provide its AI Pro plan, inclusive of Gemini 2.5 Pro, enhanced access to NotebookLM for research applications, and a substantial 2 TB of cloud storage, among other premium features.
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, emphasized the company’s commitment to “AI-empowering” India through “strategic and long-term” alliances with technology leaders like Google. Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom operator, is a pivotal component of this vision.
The initial phase of the rollout, estimated to be worth 35,100 rupees (approximately $396) per user, will prioritize early access for users aged 18 to 25 with unlimited Jio 5G plans for an 18-month period. The long-term objective is to extend this free access to Google’s AI services to the entirety of Reliance Jio’s vast customer base.
“I’m excited for how this partnership will help expand access to AI across India,” stated Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, highlighting the company’s dedication to broadening AI accessibility.
The demographics of India present a compelling opportunity. With approximately 377 million Gen Z individuals, the country represents a significant consumer market, currently driving $860 billion in spending and projected to reach $2 trillion by 2035, according to a Boston Consulting Group report. This demographic is digitally native and highly receptive to innovative technologies like AI.
India’s robust digital infrastructure, boasting the highest number of users across key social media platforms—Facebook (350 million+), Instagram (413.8 million), YouTube (over 467 million), and WhatsApp (over 500 million)—makes it a highly attractive market for the deployment of digital services and AI applications.
This move from Google arrives amidst a flurry of similar initiatives from other major players in the AI sector. In July, Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator, forged a partnership with Perplexity to provide its 360 million customers with complimentary access to Perplexity Pro, a service valued at $200 annually.
Airtel and Perplexity subsequently launched extensive social media campaigns, partnering with prominent Indian influencers to showcase compelling use-cases for the free AI tool. This strategy highlights the growing importance of influencer marketing in driving adoption of AI solutions in the region.
The Indian telecom market, largely dominated by Jio and Airtel, offers strategic partnerships for companies seeking to expand the reach of their AI-powered applications and digital tools to a large audience. These partnerships offer invaluable distribution channels for companies aiming to establish a foothold in the rapidly expanding Indian AI market.
Adding further fuel to the competitive fire, OpenAI reportedly announced on Tuesday that it will offer its ChatGPT Go plan free to Indian users for one year, effective November 4th. Launched in August at 399 rupees per month, this plan represents one of OpenAI’s most affordable subscription offerings, underscoring the company’s commitment to penetrating the Indian market.
OpenAI is actively expanding its presence in India, its second-largest market globally. The company is reportedly planning to establish a 1-gigawatt data center to support their operations in the country, demonstrating their long-term investment and commitment to the Indian market. This data center will likely leverage advanced GPU infrastructure, potentially from Nvidia or AMD, to handle the computational demands of AI training and inference.
These strategic moves by Google, OpenAI, and others highlight India’s emergence as a key battleground for AI leadership. The combination of a massive user base, growing digital infrastructure, and a tech-savvy population makes India an invaluable market for AI companies seeking to establish a global presence. The aggressive competition in the Indian market is expected to drive down prices and increase access to AI technologies, ultimately benefiting Indian consumers and businesses alike. The winners in this AI race will be those who can best adapt their offerings to the unique needs and preferences of the Indian market while simultaneously navigating the regulatory challenges and infrastructure limitations that characterize this dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/12068.html
