NEW DELHI — India launched a major global artificial intelligence gathering on Feb 16, bringing world leaders, technology executives and policymakers together to debate the opportunities and risks posed by rapidly advancing AI systems.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the five-day AI Impact Summit, which aims to produce a “shared roadmap for global AI governance and collaboration.” The event comes as demand for generative AI fuels industry growth while intensifying concerns over job disruption, misinformation and child safety.
“This occasion is further proof that our country is progressing rapidly in the field of science and technology,” Modi said in a social media post, highlighting the role of India’s youth in technological innovation.
Largest Gathering Yet
The summit marks the fourth annual international forum focused on AI challenges and opportunities, following earlier meetings in Paris, Seoul and Britain’s historic code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park. Indian officials expect around 250,000 participants, including 20 national leaders and 45 ministerial delegations.
Technology leaders attending include OpenAI chief Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, while Nvidia head Jensen Huang reportedly cancelled his planned appearance due to unforeseen circumstances.
Modi is also expected to hold discussions with leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as organisers seek to position India as a central player in shaping the global AI agenda.
Debate Over Regulation and Accountability
Despite ambitious goals, some participants warn the summit’s broad focus could limit concrete outcomes. Critics argue that previous international meetings have largely produced voluntary commitments allowing companies to regulate themselves.
AI safety remains a major theme, particularly concerns over misinformation and deepfakes. Recent controversy surrounding billionaire Elon Musk’s Grok AI tool — which drew backlash after users generated sexualised images of real people — has intensified calls for stronger safeguards.
Experts say child protection and digital harms are increasingly urgent issues as generative AI lowers barriers to producing harmful content.
Balancing Innovation and Safeguards
Earlier gatherings have struggled to reach consensus on regulation. At a 2025 summit in Paris, dozens of countries supported ethical and open AI principles, but the United States declined to sign, warning that excessive regulation could hinder innovation.
The Delhi summit is organised around the themes of “people, progress and planet,” reflecting efforts to balance technological advancement with social responsibility and environmental impact.
India’s Growing AI Ambitions
Organisers describe the 2026 meeting as the first major global AI summit hosted by a developing country, underscoring India’s ambitions to expand its technological leadership.
India rose to third place in a global AI competitiveness ranking in 2025, overtaking South Korea and Japan. However, analysts note the country still faces significant challenges before matching the technological dominance of the United States and China.
Observers expect discussions to focus on creating regulatory guardrails without slowing innovation, alongside potential announcements of increased government investment and international partnerships aimed at strengthening India’s role in the global AI ecosystem.
