India hosts AI impact summit 2026, sets global agenda for responsible AI

India is set to host the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam from February 16-20 , bringing together global leaders, policymakers, tech giants, and innovators to shape the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The summit underscores India’s ambition to be a key architect in defining responsible, inclusive, and development-focused AI , particularly for the Global South .

The five-day summit will feature over 700 sessions , including panel discussions, workshops, and sector-specific deep dives. The thematic focus spans AI safety, governance, ethical use, data protection, workforce readiness, and sovereign AI development. India’s approach, termed “innovation-first, regulation-ready,” emphasizes scaling AI benefits while deploying safeguards for misuse, misinformation, and deepfakes.

Organized around seven thematic working groups , co-chaired by representatives from the Global North and Global South , the summit aims to deliver concrete outcomes. Expected deliverables include the creation of AI Commons to democratize access to tools and datasets, guidelines for trusted AI infrastructure , and sectoral compendiums of AI use cases in healthcare, agriculture, finance, and governance. A key focus is also on sovereign AI and indigenous models , providing a roadmap for Indian foundation models tailored to strategic sectors. Frameworks for workforce development, including reskilling initiatives and AI-focused training, are also expected to be highlighted.

High-level agreements are anticipated, including a joint declaration on responsible AI for developing economies , frameworks for shared compute infrastructure , and potential bilateral cooperation pacts on AI research, innovation, and capacity building. The summit will also signal India’s policy stance on the ethical and secure deployment of AI while maintaining a conducive environment for innovation.

The IndiaAI Mission will be in focus, showcasing policies to expand compute capacity , create large-scale AI datasets , support startups and research institutions with funding, and promote AI adoption in public services such as healthcare diagnostics, smart agriculture, and financial inclusion. The government has committed ₹2,500 crore over the next three years to support AI development, infrastructure, and skill-building programs.

Participation from Indian startups will also be a highlight. Twelve startups selected under the Foundation Model Pillar will present their innovations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and international delegates. These startups specialize in multilingual AI models, generative AI for content creation, engineering simulations, advanced analytics, and healthcare diagnostics, demonstrating India’s growing capabilities in building indigenous AI solutions.

The summit is expected to have direct benefits for citizens and businesses , including AI-driven tools for farmers to monitor crop health and predict yields, support for small businesses through automation and e-commerce tools, AI-focused workforce training programs for future-ready jobs, and improved access to public services through AI-powered solutions in finance, healthcare, and governance.

Security and governance concerns will also be addressed, with discussions on cybersecurity, data privacy, misinformation, and ethical AI use . India’s innovation-first policy allows rapid deployment of AI tools while maintaining the flexibility to regulate and legislate as risks emerge. The focus on sovereign AI initiatives will reduce dependency on foreign AI tools for strategic sectors and enhance national capabilities.

The summit will host leaders from 45+ countries , including Emmanuel Macron (France) , Lula da Silva (Brazil) , and senior UN officials, along with CEOs from Google, OpenAI, DeepMind, Anthropic, and Microsoft . Indian startups will also share the stage, highlighting domestic innovation. Immediate outcomes expected include the launch of shared AI compute and research infrastructure, policy blueprints for ethical AI deployment, and initial funding commitments for public AI applications.

Over the next 12-24 months , India plans to operationalize these initiatives, integrate AI tools into government services, and expand skills programs for its youthful workforce, positioning itself as a global hub for AI innovation and deployment. The summit marks a strategic moment in India’s journey to lead in AI while promoting inclusion, sustainability, and real-world impact.