Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 15-20, 2026, in New Delhi. The high-profile event aims to draw global leaders and CEOs from tech giants such as Google DeepMind, Adobe, Salesforce, Qualcomm, and FedEx, among others. India anticipates that this summit will facilitate a consensus declaration on pivotal issues surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly focusing on inclusion and the democratization of AI resources.
The participation of the United States and China at the summit underscores the significance of their roles in global AI discussions. IT Secretary S Krishnan confirmed that notable figures including Bill Gates, Demis Hassabis (CEO of Google DeepMind), Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), Shantanu Narayen (CEO of Adobe), Marc Benioff (CEO of Salesforce), Cristiano Amon (CEO of Qualcomm), and Raj Subramaniam (CEO of FedEx) will be present.
The summit aims to build a consensus on critical AI issues, as Krishnan highlighted the need to bring all stakeholders “on board”. He emphasized that the focus has shifted from the first AI Summit’s emphasis on safety to this summit’s forward-looking impact, particularly regarding the benefits that can be generated from AI technologies. Key components of the leaders’ declaration are expected to include support for the inclusion agenda and the democratization of AI resources.
The overarching goal of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is to bridge the global AI divide and promote the development of localized AI solutions that serve various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and governance. The summit will also aim to align global standards of AI governance and innovation with the specific needs of the developing world.
Seven working groups will be established to address the summit’s goals, focusing on areas such as AI for economic growth and social good, inclusion for social empowerment, and safe and trusted AI. These groups will deliver outcomes that illustrate AI’s impact on people, the planet, and progress.
The summit builds on the momentum of previous multilateral initiatives, including the Bletchley Park, Seoul, Paris, and Kigali summits. Other prominent figures expected to attend include French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, alongside industry leaders like Jensen Huang (CEO of Nvidia), Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI), and Lip-Bu Tan (CEO of Intel).
Krishnan noted that around 50 global CEOs and founders have already confirmed their attendance, with expectations that this number will increase significantly after the holiday season. More than 100 countries are anticipated to be represented, including a robust presence from the global south, particularly from African and Latin American nations.
In addition to the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Modi will host a dinner event on February 18, and will engage in the leaders’ plenary and CEO roundtable on February 19. These engagements highlight India’s commitment to fostering a global dialogue on AI impact and governance.
As discussions regarding India’s participation in the Pax Silica silicon supply chain continue, Krishnan remarked that conversations are ongoing at various levels, including the Ministry of External Affairs and the National Security Advisor’s office. The technical aspects of this dialogue are also under the purview of the IT ministry.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 presents a pivotal opportunity for leaders from around the globe to collaborate on AI strategies that not only address current challenges but also lay the groundwork for future innovations that benefit all sectors of society.
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