World Leaders Convene in New Delhi for AI Impact Summit, Pledge Open, Responsible AI

More than 500 delegates at the India-AI Impact Summit backed global cooperation, open access, and responsible AI development frameworks.

What happened

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the India‑AI Impact Summit on Thursday, 19 February 2026, at the newly built Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The four‑day gathering, running from 16 to 20 February, brought together more than 500 senior officials, CEOs and researchers from over 100 countries. Organisers expected 250,000 participants and 300+ exhibitors to discuss how artificial intelligence can be harnessed for the "People, Planet and Progress" agenda that underpins the summit’s three Sutras.

Background

The India‑AI Impact Summit 2026 is a flagship event of the IndiaAI Mission, jointly run by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and the IndiaAI agency. A Press Information Bureau (PIB) release on 29 December 2025 outlined the summit’s focus on “democratizing AI and bridging the AI divide” and listed the three Sutras that will guide the dialogue.

Key developments

• High‑level participation – United Nations Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres addressed the opening ceremony, warning that “AI must belong to everyone” and urging nations not to let the technology be shaped by “the whims of a few billionaires.”
• Modi’s MANAV vision – In a televised speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s MANAV (Human‑Centred) AI doctrine, emphasizing ethics, accountability and data sovereignty. “Design and develop in India, deliver to the world,” he said, positioning India as both a creator and a rule‑setter.
• Policy commitments – Over 15 concrete deliverables were pledged, including a global AI ethics framework, a multilateral data‑sharing protocol, and a public‑private AI research fund of US$500 million.
• Industry showcase – Companies such as Google, Microsoft, IBM and Indian start‑ups displayed AI tools for healthcare, climate modelling and education. A live demo of an AI‑driven flood‑prediction system for the Ganges basin drew particular attention.
• Civil‑society voice – NGOs from the UN‑DPPA, Amnesty International and the Internet Society participated in a dedicated “AI for Good” track, urging safeguards for privacy and algorithmic bias.

Expert commentary

• Dr Rohit Krishnan, Secretary‑General of IndiaAI, told reporters that the summit’s “people‑first” approach is designed to translate technical breakthroughs into tangible public‑service outcomes, especially in health and agriculture.
• Prof Michele Bianchi, AI ethics scholar at Oxford University, praised the UN’s call for inclusive governance, noting that “multilateral frameworks are essential to prevent a fragmented regulatory landscape that could stifle innovation.”
• Ms Lina Gomez, Director of the UN‑DPPA, highlighted the pledge to make AI tools openly accessible to developing nations, calling it “a historic step toward narrowing the digital divide.”

Why it matters

The summit marks the first global AI conference hosted in the Global South at this scale, signalling India’s ambition to become a hub for responsible AI development and to shape international norms that ensure the technology benefits all of humanity.

Impact and implications

The summit’s outcomes are expected to influence upcoming G20 AI discussions and feed into the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by leveraging AI for climate resilience, health diagnostics and inclusive education. Analysts at The Economist Intelligence Unit estimate that the collaborative frameworks announced could accelerate AI‑driven productivity gains in emerging economies by up to 3 % per year.

What to watch next

• Feb 22‑24 – A track‑II diplomatic workshop in Geneva will refine the AI ethics framework.
• Mid‑2026 – The India‑AI Innovation Fund will begin disbursing grants to start‑ups from Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.
• 2027 – The next edition of the AI Impact Summit is slated for Bengaluru, with a target of 1,000 participants and a focus on AI for climate mitigation.

---

The Good Signal will continue to monitor the implementation of the summit’s pledges and report on measurable outcomes.

Sources

• Press Information Bureau (PIB) release on 29 December 2025
• United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres – opening ceremony address
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi – televised speech at India‑AI Impact Summit
• Dr. Rohit Krishnan, Secretary‑General of IndiaAI – press briefing
• Prof. Michele Bianchi, Oxford University – expert commentary
• Ms. Lina Gomez, Director of UN‑DPPA – statement at summit
• The Economist Intelligence Unit – analysis on AI productivity gains