Google and Reliance Jio Partner for Free AI Pro Access in India

Google and Reliance Industries Collaborate to Expand AI Access in India

To bolster its presence in developing nations, Google has formed a strategic alliance with Reliance Industries, spearheaded by Mukesh Ambani. This collaboration will see Google’s AI Pro subscription offered at no additional cost to subscribers of Jio 5G plans.

Partnership Details and Market Context

The partnership, revealed by Google on Thursday, involves providing AI Pro access free of charge for 18 months to qualifying Jio users. This move follows a similar agreement just three months prior, where Perplexity partnered with Bharti Airtel, Reliance’s primary competitor in the Indian telecom sector, to grant complimentary access to Perplexity Pro for Airtel’s 360 million customers.

India, possessing the world’s largest population and the second-largest internet user base exceeding one billion, represents a significant opportunity for global technology companies. Although a major indigenous AI innovation has yet to emerge from the country, U.S. tech giants are increasingly focused on India as a crucial testing ground for AI models and applications, with the potential for broader deployment across other emerging markets.

Offer Specifics and Benefits

Initially, the Jio offer will be available to individuals between the ages of 18 and 25, with plans for subsequent expansion to encompass all Jio subscribers throughout India. The package includes access to Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro model through the Gemini app, increased limits for AI-generated image and video creation utilizing Nano Banana and Veo 3.1, enhanced capabilities with Notebook LM for academic and research purposes, and 2 TB of cloud storage across Google Photos, Gmail, Drive, and WhatsApp backups.

The Indian telecom company stated that this partnership will also focus on developing and integrating more localized, AI-powered experiences for its user base.

Financial Value and Google Cloud Integration

The combined value of the 18-month offer is estimated at ₹35,100 (approximately $396). Google’s standard AI Pro plan in India is priced at ₹1,950 (around $22) per month and includes a one-month free trial period.

Furthermore, Reliance has partnered with Google Cloud to improve access to its tensor processing units (TPUs) within India. Reliance Intelligence, the AI division of Reliance, will function as a key go-to-market partner for Google Cloud, facilitating the expansion of Gemini Enterprise to organizations across India and creating its own pre-built AI agents for the platform.

Executive Statements and Strategic Importance

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, emphasized that this announcement will deliver Google’s advanced AI tools to consumers, businesses, and the thriving developer community in India.

At its 48th annual general meeting in August, Reliance announced collaborations with both Google and Meta to strengthen its AI infrastructure through a newly established subsidiary, Reliance Intelligence. A joint venture between Reliance and Meta was also announced, involving a combined investment of ₹8.55 billion (approximately $100 million) with a 70/30 ownership structure.

Competitive Landscape and Expansion Plans

This week, OpenAI, a competitor to Google, revealed plans to offer free access to its sub-$5 ChatGPT Go plan to all users in India starting November 4. The entry-level tier, initially launched in August, has since been extended to 17 countries throughout Asia.

Other prominent AI companies, including Anthropic, are also establishing operations in India, aiming to gain deeper insights into local user behavior and expand their reach within the world’s largest emerging market.

Previous Promotions and Future Outlook

Earlier in the year, Google provided Indian students with a complimentary one-year subscription to its AI Pro plan, a promotion that concluded on September 15.

India has already played a role in driving the adoption of U.S.-developed AI platforms and is a leading consumer market for tools like Google’s Nano Banana, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Anthropic’s Claude. The extension of free access to premium AI versions is expected to further accelerate adoption and solidify India’s position as a key growth market for generative AI. However, the ability of these AI companies to generate substantial revenue from India once the current free bundling period ends remains to be seen.

Mukesh Ambani stated that, through partnerships with companies like Google, their goal is to transform India into an AI-empowered nation, enabling citizens and businesses to leverage intelligent tools for creation, innovation, and growth.