New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- Google has defended its $15 billion artificial intelligence (AI) data centre project in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, saying it will use advanced air-cooling technology rather than water-based systems as concerns over the region's freshwater resources intensify.

The project, described by the company as its largest AI hub outside the United States, has attracted protests from residents and environmental campaigners over water availability, land acquisition, ecological risks and the number of jobs likely to reach local communities.

Alexander Smith, Google's head of infrastructure and energy for Asia-Pacific, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the company had assessed the local watershed before selecting its coolin...