The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi from February 16–20, has been widely recognised as a landmark artificial intelligence event — especially significant as it was the first summit of its kind hosted in the Global South. Foreign media and analysts have described the gathering as one of the most important global AI convenings ever, reflecting India’s rising role in shaping how AI is discussed and governed internationally.
The summit’s scale and ambition were unprecedented: it brought together over 100 countries, numerous heads of state, global tech leaders, and thousands of participants from government, industry, academia, and civil society. This broad participation signalled a shift in the global AI conversation, with more emphasis on cooperation between advanced economies and developing nations on issues like equitable technology access and AI for public good.
A key outcome was the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, endorsed by dozens of countries and international organisations. The declaration laid out principles for inclusive and responsible AI development, stressing that the benefits of artificial intelligence must be shared equitably and that international cooperation is essential for addressing ethical, economic, and social challenges posed by AI.
The summit also secured massive investment commitments for AI infrastructure and innovation, with pledges worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Combined with India’s strategic emphasis on expanding AI capabilities domestically while elevating the Global South’s voice in AI governance, the event is seen as a turning point — not just for India’s tech ecosystem, but for how emerging economies influence the future of artificial intelligence globally.
