NEW DELHI, Feb 16— As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced on February 16, New Delhi positioned itself as the mediator between the Global North and South on emerging technology frameworks. The summit is hosting a massive expo where global technology leaders, including Nvidia, Meta, and Microsoft, are displaying innovations alongside 600 high-potential startups to an audience of over 200,000 expected visitors.
Government officials stated that India is pushing for an international agreement on a “global AI commons”—a shared repository of AI use cases for sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education. This initiative aligns with the “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” (Welfare for All, Happiness for All) theme, which the Prime Minister affirmed is central to India’s approach to the technology revolution.
Participants at the opening day sessions declared that the buzz around AI has reached an unprecedented level, with many sessions filled to capacity hours in advance. Experts asserted that the focus has shifted from mere theoretical safety to practical, scalable deployment in the public sector. The summit also features specialized challenges such as “AI by HER” and “YUVAi,” which officials maintained are designed to ensure that AI development is inclusive of women and young innovators.
The summit is scheduled to conclude on February 20 with the GPAI Council meeting. Leaders affirmed that the outcomes of these five days will likely shape global policy for years to come, particularly regarding the responsible development of Artificial General Intelligence and the strengthening of digital public infrastructure.
