Google launches AI engineering center in Taiwan

Google Opens Largest AI Infrastructure Hardware Engineering Centre Outside the U.S. in Taiwan

Major Investment in Taiwan’s Tech Ecosystem

Alphabet’s Google has officially opened its largest artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure hardware engineering centre outside the United States in Taiwan. The new centre, located in Taipei, marks a significant investment in the island’s technology sector and underscores Taiwan’s growing importance in the global AI supply chain.

Support from Taiwan’s President and U.S. Diplomats

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te attended the opening ceremony, stating that Google’s move demonstrates confidence in Taiwan as a trustworthy technology partner. He emphasized that Taiwan is not only a vital part of the global technological supply chain but also a key hub for building secure and trustworthy AI.

Raymond Greene, the de facto U.S. ambassador in Taipei, highlighted the deep partnership between the United States and Taiwan, calling this development a new era of opportunity and a golden age in U.S.-Taiwan economic relations.

Role of Taiwan’s Tech Industry

• Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, whose chips are widely used by companies like Nvidia, which are driving the global AI boom.
• The technology developed and tested in Taipei will be deployed in Google data centres around the world, powering Google devices and services that billions of people rely on every day.
• Google Cloud’s vice president of platforms infrastructure engineering, Aamer Mahmood, said the new centre is more than just an office—it’s an investment in an ecosystem and a testament to Taiwan’s place as an important centre for global AI innovation.

AI Infrastructure and Innovation

The Taipei engineering hub is designed to accelerate AI innovation, with hundreds of employees working on hardware, software, testing, and laboratory engineering. The centre integrates elements of local Taiwanese identity and is built to foster collaboration and innovation.

Google’s investment in Taiwan also includes its first data centre in the Asia Pacific region and multiple international subsea cables, which connect Taiwan to the global network.

Global Impact and Future Prospects

The technology developed at the Taipei hub will form the backbone of Google’s AI infrastructure, supporting services such as Search, YouTube, and the latest innovations powered by Gemini. The centre’s location in Taiwan provides access to a unique ecosystem that connects design, engineering, manufacturing, and deployment, making it a critical node in Google’s global AI strategy.

Geopolitical Context

Taiwan’s government has repeatedly warned of the risks involved in using Chinese-developed AI systems like DeepSeek. China views Taiwan as its own territory, despite the objections of the government in Taipei. Google’s investment in Taiwan is seen as a strategic move that strengthens the island’s position in the global technology landscape.