Google opened its new AI infrastructure hardware engineering center in Taiwan on Thursday, marking its largest facility outside the U.S. The opening was seen by the Taiwanese government as a strong indication of the country’s reliability as a technology partner.
Taiwan is home to the world’s largest contract chipmaker, TSMC. These chips, used by companies like Nvidia, form the backbone of the global AI boom. The island’s government continues to emphasize close cooperation with U.S. technology companies amid ongoing tensions with China.
The Taipei government frequently draws attention to the risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence systems like the Chinese-made DeepSeek. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te emphasized the importance of the center, saying: “This investment shows that Taiwan has become not only a vital part of the global technology supply chain, but also a significant center for developing safe and reliable artificial intelligence.” Raymond Greene, the de facto US ambassador to Taipei, stated that the center is a tangible reflection of the deep partnership between the US and Taiwan, marking the beginning of a “new era of opportunities” for both countries. –> Google Cloud Platform Development Director Greg Moore explained that the center’s work will focus on integrating various chips, including Google’s TPU AI processors, into motherboards and servers. Google’s infrastructure engineering team in Taiwan was established in 2020 and has tripled in size since then; the new center will employ hundreds of experts. The US tech giant also operates two consumer electronics hardware development centers and a data center in Taiwan, which has been operational since 2013. The company has also made significant investments in international submarine cable projects. Aamer Mahmood, Vice President of Cloud Platforms Infrastructure Engineering at Google, described the opening as “proof that Taiwan holds a critical position in global AI innovation,” stating that it is not just an office investment but also a strategic investment in an entire ecosystem.
