India has stepped into the global spotlight with the hosting of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, positioning itself at the centre of global conversations on the future of artificial intelligence. The five-day summit, being held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, marks the first international AI summit of its kind to be hosted in the Global South.
Bringing together Presidents, Prime Ministers, global technology executives, startup founders, researchers, and civil society leaders, the summit aims to shape a shared vision for inclusive, responsible, and human-centric AI development. The gathering reflects India’s growing role as both a technology builder and a bridge between advanced economies and emerging markets in the AI era.
Global Leaders Converge to Shape Responsible AI Frameworks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed global delegates, describing the summit as “a matter of immense pride” for the country. He emphasised that the event goes beyond diplomatic symbolism and serves as a platform to advance the guiding principles of People, Planet, and Progress. According to the Prime Minister, these pillars are essential to ensuring that AI development remains equitable, transparent, and accountable.
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World leaders expected to attend include Emmanuel Macron, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Petteri Orpo, Peter Pellegrini, and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The summit will also see the participation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, along with ministerial delegations from more than 45 countries.
The United States delegation, led by senior government officials and industry leaders, signals a renewed push for deeper collaboration with India in areas such as AI infrastructure, quantum computing, and trusted digital technologies.
India Showcases AI at Scale Through Real-World Applications
Beyond high-level diplomacy, the summit is also spotlighting India’s domestic AI capabilities. The India AI Impact Expo is showcasing a wide range of real-world applications, including multilingual reasoning engines, voice-first digital tools, and AI-driven solutions for agriculture and healthcare.
“AI for Welfare and Happiness of All,” Says PM Modi
Addressing the summit, Prime Minister Modi extended a warm welcome to world leaders, industry captains, innovators, policymakers, researchers, and technology enthusiasts from across the globe. He highlighted the summit’s theme, “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya”, meaning welfare for all and happiness for all, as a reflection of India’s commitment to using artificial intelligence for human-centric progress.
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The Prime Minister noted that AI is already transforming key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, governance, and enterprise. He said the India AI Impact Summit would enrich global discourse on innovation, collaboration, responsible AI use, and ethical deployment.
Expressing confidence in India’s role, Modi added that the nation’s 1.4 billion people stand at the forefront of the AI transformation. From robust digital public infrastructure and a vibrant startup ecosystem to cutting-edge research, India’s progress in AI, he said, reflects both ambition and responsibility.
