A Platform for AI’s Next Phase
The AI Impact Summit 2026 is set to take place in New Delhi on February 19–20, positioning India as a key convenor in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Organised under the national AI mission and the Ministry of Electronics and IT, the gathering will be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam. The event seeks to place the spotlight on equitable access to advanced technologies and on ensuring that AI’s benefits extend beyond developed economies to emerging and developing nations.
By framing the conversation around the “democratisation” of artificial intelligence, India aims to push for wider participation in the AI ecosystem, responsible innovation, and governance mechanisms that reduce technological disparities across regions.
Global Tech Leadership in Attendance
A notable feature of the summit is the expected participation of several influential figures from the global technology industry. Confirmed attendees include Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, Sundar Pichai of Google, Sam Altman representing OpenAI, and Dario Amodei from Anthropic. Executives from major firms such as Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Qualcomm are also expected.
The summit is likely to draw heads of government, ministers, regulators, startup founders, and civil-society representatives from more than a hundred countries, making it one of the largest AI policy and industry gatherings in the Global South.
Focus on Democratising Artificial Intelligence
Central to the summit’s agenda is the idea that AI must not remain concentrated in a handful of advanced economies. Indian policymakers are expected to advocate shared access to computing infrastructure, open research collaborations, and frameworks that ensure fairness, safety, and transparency. The emphasis on democratisation includes bridging digital divides, enabling local-language AI systems, and supporting developing nations with resources and capacity building.
Such discussions are expected to address concerns around algorithmic bias, data governance, and the environmental cost of large-scale AI infrastructure, while also highlighting AI’s potential to improve public services, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
The ‘Three Sutras’ and ‘Seven Chakras’ Framework
The summit’s conceptual architecture rests on three guiding principles—often described as sutras: prioritising people through human-centric AI, protecting the planet through sustainable innovation, and driving inclusive progress across economies. These are translated into seven thematic working groups or “chakras,” focusing on talent development, social inclusion, trustworthy AI, scientific collaboration, resilience and innovation, shared access to AI resources, and economic growth through AI-driven applications.
Together, these themes are intended to move discussions beyond theory toward implementable policies and partnerships.
Defence Innovation: DroneAcharya’s Army Contract
In a parallel development underscoring AI’s growing defence applications, DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations has secured a contract from the Indian Army to supply advanced first-person-view drones. The order reflects the increasing role of AI-enabled unmanned systems in surveillance, reconnaissance, and tactical operations. The contract is also viewed as a boost to domestic defence technology manufacturing and aligns with India’s broader push for indigenous innovation.
From Technology Consumer to Agenda Setter
The AI Impact Summit 2026 marks a significant step in India’s effort to transition from a major technology user to a global rule-shaper in artificial intelligence. By convening world leaders, outlining guiding principles, and showcasing domestic innovation, the summit highlights India’s ambition to influence both governance and deployment of AI. If the deliberations lead to concrete collaborations and shared infrastructure initiatives, the event could strengthen India’s role as a bridge between advanced AI ecosystems and emerging economies, reinforcing its position in the evolving global technology order.
(With agency inputs)
