India’s AI data centre landscape expands: OpenAI’s giga plant, RIL’s deep tech unit

Daily brief on deep tech and climate tech news from Indian and around the world.Illustrative image. OpenAI and Indian conglomerate Reliance are planning large AI data centres in the country – investments that could boost AI compute availability for many.OpenAI to build multi-gigawatt AI data center in India, expanding local footprintOpenAI is planning to set up a major data center in India with at least 1 gigawatt capacity, supported by local partnerships and backed by Microsoft, Reuters reports. The company has registered as a legal entity in India, established a local team, and will open its first office in New Delhi this year to strengthen its presence in its second-largest market. The project marks a significant move for OpenAI’s Stargate-branded AI infrastructure expansion in Asia, with further details likely during CEO Sam Altman’s September visit.Listen to the podcastReliance launches AI subsidiary to power India’s deep tech futureReliance Industries has launched a wholly owned subsidiary, Reliance Intelligence, to advance India’s AI capabilities and make the country a global hub for deep tech, The Hindu reports. The new company will focus on gigawatt-scale, green energy-powered AI data centers, forge global tech partnerships, build wide-reaching AI services for major sectors, and nurture talent. Strategic alliances with Google and Meta will enable scalable, affordable AI solutions for Indian consumers and businesses.Lizy raises €75m to scale circular EV leasing for European firmsLizy, a Brussels-based car leasing company, raised €75 million to expand its circular electric vehicle leasing model across Europe, Tech Funding News reports. By championing used EV leasing, Lizy offers small businesses affordable, sustainable mobility solutions, unlike the traditional “one and done” car contracts. The investment, combining capital and debt, will allow Lizy to scale up and accelerate the transition to electric fleets for companies, enhancing both environmental impact and growth.Runway targets robotics sector with AI-powered training simulationsRunway, known for its video-generating AI, is expanding into robotics by leveraging its world models for training simulations, making robot and self-driving car development faster and more cost-effective, TechCrunch reports. Companies can use its models to test specific scenarios and actions in a virtual environment, improving scalability and precision over real-world tests. Runway will fine-tune its existing models for industry needs, backed by over $500 million in funding.Gene variant pairs act as switches to unlock hidden disease pathwaysResearchers at IIT Madras and Denmark found that interactions between specific genetic variants can act as “switches” to unlock hidden metabolic pathways, increasing understanding of complex diseases, according to a post on the institute’s website. Their yeast study, using multi-omics and time-based analysis, showed certain variant pairs rewire cellular networks and activate previously silent functions. This approach could guide new personalized therapies, biomarkers, and drug targets for conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.Styrofoam upcycling enables safe, efficient hydrogen storage solutionUNIST-led researchers developed a process to convert waste Styrofoam into a safe, reusable hydrogen storage medium using liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), Tech Xplore reports. The method utilizes polystyrene’s aromatic structure for hydrogen storage and retrieval, with ruthenium and platinum catalysts enabling efficient absorption and release. Innovations include improved catalyst durability and the use of waste heat, solving both hydrogen storage and plastic recycling challenges for future industrial adoption.Norma validates quantum AI algorithms on NVIDIA GPUs for scalable useNorma has completed validation of its quantum AI algorithms on NVIDIA hardware, demonstrating robust performance and compatibility for high-impact applications, Quantum Insider reports. This achievement marks a significant milestone in bridging quantum computing with advanced AI, enabling scalable solutions in areas like optimization and materials science. The testing confirms that Norma’s quantum AI stack integrates smoothly with industry-standard GPUs, paving the way for commercial deployments and future research.6G wireless promises ultra-fast, AI-powered connectivity for advanced applications6G wireless technology will offer ultra-high data rates, near-zero latency, and large-scale connectivity, integrating sensing and AI-driven operations for advanced applications beyond traditional communication, IEEE Spectrum reports. It will support scenarios requiring precise positioning, critical low-latency vehicular communications, and highly adaptive resource management in dense, heterogeneous environments. Innovations like terahertz spectrum, smart antennas, full duplex, and meta-surfaces are key features, making 6G transformative for industries and society.In ConversationFrom jetpacks to robot brigades: Jay Panchal on Aule’s vision for India’s space-tech futureby Hari ArakaliFebruary 3, 2026