By Digiparvat News Desk | Published: February 16, 2026 | 5 min read
The world’s attention has shifted to New Delhi as the AI Impact Summit 2026 begins at Bharat Mandapam. India is now the global center for artificial intelligence discussions. This event is being called the “Bretton Woods moment for the silicon age,” as India hosts the first major AI summit ever held in the Global South. Consequently, the guest list includes the biggest names in technology.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed global leaders, tech CEOs, innovators, and policymakers to this five-day event. The theme is “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya — Welfare for All, Happiness for All.” This reflects India’s goal of using AI for human progress. Additionally, with over 2.5 lakh visitors expected, more than 3,000 speakers, and representatives from over 45 countries, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is set to reshape global AI discussions.
The Power List: Silicon Valley Meets the Global South
The halls of Bharat Mandapam are filled with remarkable star power. For the first time, the biggest names in artificial intelligence have gathered in Delhi together. This shows a major change in tech diplomacy. Notably, this convergence underscores a significant shift in global technology power dynamics.
Global tech leaders attending the summit include:
- Sam Altman (CEO, OpenAI)
- Sundar Pichai (CEO, Alphabet Inc. and Google)
- Demis Hassabis (CEO, Google DeepMind)
- Dario Amodei (CEO, Anthropic)
- Brad Smith (President, Microsoft)
- Cristiano Amon (CEO, Qualcomm)
- Yann LeCun (Chief AI Scientist, Meta)
- Bill Gates (Chair, Gates Foundation)
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had to cancel his visit at the last moment. However, the lineup remains excellent, featuring AI pioneers like Yoshua Bengio and Stuart Russell alongside industry leaders. Therefore, attendees can still expect groundbreaking insights from a stellar roster.
World Leaders Arrive in Delhi
The summit isn’t just about business leaders. Heads of state and government from nearly 20 countries are taking part. This makes it a diplomatic achievement for India. The confirmed world leaders include:
| Country | Leader |
|---|---|
| France | President Emmanuel Macron |
| Brazil | President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva |
| Finland | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo |
| Spain | President Pedro Sanchez |
| Greece | Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis |
| Sri Lanka | President Anura Kumara Disanayaka |
| UAE | Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Switzerland | President Guy Parmelin |
| Estonia | President Alar Karis |
| Serbia | President Aleksandar Vucic |
Additionally, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is also attending, along with senior officials from international groups. As a result, the diplomatic presence adds significant weight to the discussions.
India’s AI Moment: From Back Office to Laboratory
What makes this summit truly special is India’s new role. For many years, the country served as the world’s back office—a place for outsourcing and support. However, the AI Impact Summit 2026 marks India’s move to becoming the world’s “AI laboratory.”
Prime Minister Modi set the tone early. He posted on X: *”Thanks to the 1.4 billion people of India, our nation stands at the forefront of the AI transformation. From digital public infrastructure to a vibrant startup ecosystem and cutting-edge research, our strides in AI reflect both ambition and responsibility.”*
Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw explained the summit’s goals: “The aim is clear: AI should be used for shaping humanity, inclusive growth and a sustainable future.” In other words, India is positioning itself as a leader in ethical AI development.
The Three Pillars: People, Planet, Progress
The summit focuses on three core themes or “Sutras” — People, Planet, and Progress. These branch into seven working groups called “Chakras”:
- Human Capital – Training and workforce readiness
- Inclusion for Social Empowerment – AI for accessibility
- Safe and Trusted AI – Rules and ethics
- Science – Research and new ideas
- Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency – Sustainable systems
- Democratising AI Resources – Computing power and AI Commons
- AI for Economic Development and Social Good – Real-world uses
These pillars show India’s practical approach. AI isn’t just something to control with safety rules—it’s a tool to be used, much like electricity in the last century. Therefore, this framework ensures AI benefits reach every section of society.
Day-by-Day Breakdown: What to Expect
The five-day summit has a busy schedule. It aims to go beyond general talks toward real results:
| Date | Key Highlights |
|---|---|
| February 16 | Opening & India AI Expo launch; keynote speeches; policy discussions |
| February 17 | Industry deep dives; release of reports on AI in healthcare, education, agriculture |
| February 18 | Research Symposium featuring new AI research presentations |
| February 19 | Formal Opening Ceremony with PM Modi; High-level CEO Roundtable |
| February 20 | GPAI Council meetings; Adoption of Leaders’ Declaration |
More than 700 sessions are planned across the five days. These cover AI safety rules, regulations, ethics, data protection, and India’s own AI strategy. Consequently, participants will have ample opportunities to engage with key topics.
The India AI Expo: A Showcase of Innovation
Alongside the summit, the India AI Expo has opened at Bharat Mandapam. It features over 400 exhibitors across seven themed pavilions. The expo includes pavilions from 13 countries, live AI demonstrations, and a special startup area.
For the 2.5 lakh expected visitors, this is a rare chance to see AI applications in healthcare diagnosis, farming optimization, multilingual tools, and government services. Moreover, the expo provides hands-on experiences with cutting-edge technology.
India’s Sovereign AI Goals
A key topic at the summit is “Sovereign AI.” India wants to avoid “digital colonialism”—a situation where a few Western companies own the main AI models used in Indian healthcare, farming, and banking.
To prevent this, the IndiaAI Mission is funding:
- Multilingual AI Models – Building systems that speak India’s 22 official languages
- Specialized AI – Tools for healthcare diagnosis and engineering
- AI for Business – Text-to-video and 3D modeling for India’s retail sector
- AI Computing Power – Shared resources for startups and researchers
By creating its own AI models, India aims to keep important sectors independent from foreign companies. For instance, local language models will enable millions of Indians to access AI in their mother tongue.
The Global South View
This summit’s location matters. Earlier meetings at Bletchley Park (UK), Seoul, and Paris focused mainly on “existential risks” from advanced AI. In contrast, India is changing the conversation toward fairness, access, and growth.
Officials are promoting “AI Commons” —shared resources that developing countries can use—and “Trusted AI” tools that can be shared with Africa and Southeast Asia. As a result, the Delhi summit is giving voice to nations often left out of global tech discussions.
UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy leads the British group. He called the summit “an important moment in determining how we can work together with our international partners to unlock the full benefits and potential of AI.”
The Jobs Debate: Disruption vs. Opportunity
With 65% of India’s population under 35, AI’s effect on jobs is a major concern. The summit includes many discussions on “Workforce Readiness.” These focus on training millions of workers from basic tasks to AI-supported development.
Nasscom’s Sangeeta Gupta understands the worry but sees opportunities: “There is genuine concern about this topic. But we focus on training programs. As AI becomes more common, new jobs will appear.”
Student attendee Anirudh Singh from Delhi University sees AI as helpful: “AI just reduces the tedious work that students usually had to do.” Similarly, many young Indians view AI as a tool for productivity rather than a threat.
What’s at Stake: The Leaders’ Declaration
Unlike past summits that made basic safety promises, the Delhi summit aims for a detailed Leaders’ Declaration focused on fair growth.
Expected outcomes include:
- Plans for shared computing resources
- Frameworks for AI Commons
- Industry-specific AI use guides
- Promises for sustainable AI development
- Ethical guidelines for AI use
Furthermore, this declaration could serve as a model for other developing nations navigating the AI revolution.
How to Experience the Summit
Good news for tech fans—attendance is completely free! Here’s how you can be part of this event:
Visit the official website of the AI Impact Summit and click “Register Now.” Select your visitor type, fill in the required details, and get your entry pass. The expo runs daily from 10 AM to 6 PM at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan.
Meanwhile, those unable to attend in person can follow live updates on Digiparvat and official summit channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the AI Impact Summit 2026?
The AI Impact Summit 2026 is a five-day global conference on artificial intelligence at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 16-20. It brings together world leaders, tech CEOs, policymakers, and researchers to discuss AI rules, new ideas, and fair growth. It is the first major AI summit in the Global South.
Q2: Which world leaders are attending the Delhi AI Summit?
Nearly 20 heads of state and government are attending. These include French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is also there.
Q3: Is Sundar Pichai attending the AI Summit in Delhi?
Yes, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is attending the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. He joins other tech leaders including Sam Altman (OpenAI), Demis Hassabis (DeepMind), and Brad Smith (Microsoft).
Q4: What is the theme of the AI Impact Summit 2026?
The summit’s theme is “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” — Sanskrit for “Welfare for All, Happiness for All.” It focuses on three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. These support human-centered AI development.
Q5: How can I attend the AI Impact Summit?
Registration is free through the official AI Impact Summit website. Visitors need to select “Register Now,” choose their category, and complete their details. The expo is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM at Bharat Mandapam.
Q6: What is India’s position on AI regulation?
India follows a “Development-First Model” with light rules to avoid slowing new ideas. The focus is on building India’s own AI abilities, local language models, and shared computing resources for startups and researchers.
Q7: Who are the Indian industry leaders participating?
Prominent Indian business leaders include Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries), Nandan Nilekani, Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Tata Sons), Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Biocon), and Salil Parekh (Infosys).
Q8: What is the India AI Expo?
The India AI Expo is a large exhibition with over 400 exhibitors across seven pavilions. It shows AI innovations from startups, public sector units, and global technology companies. It includes pavilions from 13 countries.
Conclusion: India’s Defining Moment in the AI Century
A New Chapter for Global Tech
As the world watches New Delhi this week, one thing becomes clear: the AI revolution has reached Delhi—but India is not just a bystander. Instead, the country is becoming a key builder of the AI-driven future.
Shifting Power Dynamics
The gathering of Silicon Valley’s leaders, world heads of state, and global policymakers at Bharat Mandapam signals a major change in technology power. India is no longer just a market or a back office. On the contrary, it is claiming its role as a rule-maker, innovator, and bridge between the developed world and the Global South.
Vision for Inclusive Growth
Prime Minister Modi’s vision of AI for “welfare for all, happiness for all” runs through all summit discussions. Whether building language models that speak Tamil or Telugu, using AI for farming advice, or creating shared computing resources for startups, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is building the foundation for a fair, inclusive AI future.
Hope for Billions
For the 1.4 billion Indians—and billions more across the developing world—this summit offers hope. It suggests the AI revolution won’t leave them behind. Instead, it can become a tool to overcome development challenges. Ultimately, this could be the moment when technology truly becomes democratic.
As Minister Vaishnaw said simply: “AI should be used for shaping humanity, inclusive growth and a sustainable future.” If the first day’s energy is any guide, that vision is becoming reality.
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