Bharat Mandapam Hosts Global Leaders to Shape the Future of Artificial Intelligence, AI Policy, and Digital Public Infrastructure.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 officially commenced at Bharat Mandapam, marking a defining moment in global artificial intelligence governance, innovation, and multilateral cooperation. The five-day global AI summit, running from February 16 to 20, brings together heads of state, technology CEOs, AI policymakers, researchers, startup founders, and civil society leaders to deliberate on inclusive AI growth, responsible AI deployment, digital governance frameworks, and sustainable development.
The summit was inaugurated by India’s PM Shri Narendra Modi, reinforcing India’s expanding leadership role in global AI dialogue. As the first major AI leaders’ summit hosted in the Global South, the event signals a geopolitical shift in AI policymaking, placing emerging economies at the forefront of discussions on ethical AI, sovereign AI infrastructure, and equitable access to advanced technologies.
Record Global Participation and High-Level Leadership
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has witnessed unprecedented international participation, with more than 35,000 registered attendees from over 100 countries. The gathering includes 15–20 heads of government and over 40 CEOs from leading global technology companies and AI organisations. Senior ministers, chief innovation officers, and digital transformation leaders are also participating, underscoring the summit’s significance as a platform to align national AI strategies with global ethical, economic, and regulatory priorities.
This large-scale participation positions the summit as one of the most influential AI governance events globally, bridging perspectives from developed nations and the Global South.
Thematic Framework: People, Planet, and Progress
The summit agenda is structured around three guiding pillars — People, Planet, and Progress — anchoring discussions on how artificial intelligence can serve humanity, strengthen climate resilience, and drive inclusive economic transformation. These guiding principles expand into seven thematic focus areas: Human Capital, Inclusion and Social Empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience and Innovation, Science and Research, Democratising AI Resources, and AI for Economic Development and Social Good.
The framework integrates AI innovation with policy outcomes, linking advanced research and AI model development with social impact, workforce transformation, and responsible AI governance.
Scaling AI from Innovation to Implementation
Alongside the leadership summit, the India AI Impact Expo 2026 has launched as a 70,000+ square metre exhibition showcasing real-world AI applications across sectors. With more than 400 exhibitors and an expected footfall exceeding 150,000 participants, the Expo highlights practical AI deployment in healthcare, climate action, education, agriculture, governance, smart cities, and industrial automation.
The Expo is designed to accelerate AI commercialisation and public-sector integration by fostering collaboration between governments, enterprises, startups, academia, and research institutions. It serves as a bridge between prototype innovation and large-scale implementation.
Global AI Impact Challenges and Research Collaboration
Ahead of the official sessions, organisers announced 70 finalists across three flagship global impact challenge tracks — AI for ALL, AI by HER, and YUVAi — selected from over 4,650 applications across more than 60 countries. These challenges aim to spotlight scalable AI solutions with cross-border relevance and measurable societal impact.
Pre-summit consultations and a dedicated Research Symposium brought together academics, policymakers, innovation leaders, and civil society stakeholders to shape actionable recommendations and collaborative frameworks emerging from the summit.
Advancing Global AI Cooperation and Digital Development
The summit extends beyond technology showcases, positioning itself as a forum for structured global AI cooperation. Multilateral institutions such as the World Bank Group are participating in parallel sessions focused on leveraging AI for economic growth, strengthening health systems, expanding access to compute infrastructure, and fostering innovation in low-resource environments.
Key discussions are addressing AI governance frameworks, ethical AI standards, data protection and cybersecurity, scaling AI for public services, and strategies to ensure equitable access to AI capabilities across emerging economies.
Addressing Workforce, Ethics, and Responsible AI
The policy agenda reflects a holistic view of artificial intelligence’s societal impact. Panels are examining workforce transformation, job displacement mitigation, digital skilling strategies, child safety online, AI ethics, and responsible deployment standards. Policymakers and industry leaders are exploring how regulatory models can balance innovation with safeguards to protect human rights and socio-economic stability.
India’s approach emphasises building a balanced AI ecosystem that integrates innovation with accountability, ensuring that AI technologies align with cultural diversity, economic priorities, and democratic values.
The summit is expected to culminate in a non-binding “New Delhi Declaration,” outlining shared global principles for responsible AI governance, multi-stakeholder collaboration, cross-border data frameworks, and ethical AI standards. While not legally binding, the declaration is anticipated to influence future international AI policy coordination and regulatory convergence.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is widely regarded as a pivotal milestone in global AI diplomacy. By convening voices from both advanced economies and developing nations, the summit underscores a shift toward more inclusive, multi-polar AI governance. It reinforces India’s ambition to emerge as a leading hub for AI innovation, digital public infrastructure, and sovereign AI development, shaping the trajectory of artificial intelligence for the coming decade.
