Case Study 6: Why Pushkar Singh Left India for Silicon Valley

Pushkar Singh moved to the US in 2017 to explore opportunities in AI research in Silicon Valley. He now works at Google and leads engineering for two ad products: Performance Max and Dynamic Search ads, two of the tech giant’s crucial revenue drivers. 

Why Did He Leave 

Singh decided to move from India to the US in 2017 because of the opportunities in AI research and development available. In India at the time, Singh says, India was still in early stages of AI research. “[The] Silicon Valley was home to cutting-edge advancements that could have a direct impact on products, especially ads,” he adds. 

For Singh, life in the US is not without its challenges. He says that the limitations of the H1B visa don’t allow one to have “peace of mind” because of its dependence on employment. The fear of job loss and the tight timeline for finding a new position adds a layer of uncertainty, he adds. 

Would He Return? 

Singh says that while India is catching up in terms of AI development, especially with initiatives to build its own foundational models, Silicon Valley remains an ideal place for cutting-edge AI work. 

He says that if there is a significant leap in AI development, he may consider moving back. But for now, he feels, the US, and especially Silicon Valley, still offers unparalleled opportunities for those working at the forefront of AI. 

He adds that safety, security, environmental factors will influence his decision to return to India. He says the growing start-up culture in India, exemplified by the success of Shark Tank, could be appealing enough for him to return. 

If he does indeed come back to India, he would try and secure seed funding for a start-up.