On 16 February 2026, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 officially opened in New Delhi, marking one of the most significant global gatherings on artificial intelligence yet held, and the first of its kind hosted in the Global South. The five‑day forum, running 16–20 February, brought together heads of state, world leaders, technology CEOs, policymakers and AI researchers under one roof to deliberate on AI’s future impact, governance, regulation and ethical use.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event at Bharat Mandapam, welcoming global delegates and emphasizing the summit’s central theme of “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” — welfare for all, happiness for all — reinforcing India’s vision of “human‑centric progress” in AI development. In a series of posts on X, Modi wrote that AI is already transforming areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, governance and enterprise, and that the summit would “enrich global discourse on diverse aspects of AI, such as innovation, collaboration, responsible use and more.”
The summit’s inclusive ambition was highlighted by organizers, who structured the agenda around three foundational principles — People, Planet and Progress — and seven thematic “chakras,” reflecting priorities like safe and trusted AI, human capital, inclusion for social empowerment, innovation and economic development. With over 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations across ten arenas, delegates were invited to explore real‑world applications of AI that could drive social good and sustainable development.
Among the high‑profile attendees were global political figures including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who joined leaders from more than a dozen countries to discuss the geopolitics and economics of AI governance. Official organizers also confirmed participation by numerous heads of state and senior officials from nations across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, underscoring the summit’s global diplomatic reach.
The technology sector was heavily represented, with CEOs and top executives from major AI and cloud firms — such as Sam Altman of OpenAI, Sundar Pichai of Google, and leaders from Microsoft, Amazon and others — present to shape dialogues on innovation, infrastructure and ethical frameworks for AI deployment. Industry observers noted that the event is expected to facilitate significant investment announcements and collaborative ventures, including discussions around democratizing access to AI compute resources.
On the opening day, UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the summit “is a key moment to unlock AI’s full potential,” pointing to the importance of global cooperation and governance in technological development, while civil society and policy groups echoed calls for inclusive, equitable AI that serves broad social needs rather than narrow commercial interests.
As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 unfolds through 20 February, delegates and participants are expected to produce a non‑binding New Delhi Declaration and shape actionable roadmaps for AI policy, regulation, workforce development and cross‑border cooperation. Organizers emphasize that while binding global agreements are not anticipated, the conversations and partnerships formed could have lasting implications for how nations balance innovation with accountability and shared human.
