India is in the spotlight as it hosts the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam. This summit is the first international AI event held in the Global South. It brings together world leaders, tech executives, startup founders, researchers, and civil society figures to discuss how to create a fair and responsible future for AI.
The summit is happening amid India’s efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure and make technology accessible to everyone. The IndiaAI Mission has invested over Rs 10,372 crore to boost the AI ecosystem. Over 38,000 GPUs are part of a shared computing facility, and 12 homegrown AI models are currently under development. India aims to be both a creator and a connector in the AI landscape.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed pride in welcoming global figures, emphasizing that the summit aims to focus on People, Planet, and Progress. The goal is to ensure AI development is centered on human needs, fairness, and accountability.
Notable attendees include leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The U.S. delegation, featuring top officials and industry leaders, reflects a strong interest in collaborating on AI and advanced technologies.
The summit will also showcase India’s homegrown innovations in AI. From multilingual systems to AI tools in agriculture and healthcare, the India AI Impact Expo highlights how technology can be applied practically. With more than 800 million internet users and a thriving startup scene, India wants to show that speed, creativity, and inclusivity can go hand in hand.
As the summit progresses, it will be interesting to see how these discussions shape the future of AI on a global scale. Recent surveys indicate that 84% of companies believe AI will enhance productivity, highlighting the urgent need for responsible development as we move forward.
For more details, you can read the World Economic Forum’s insights on AI.
