A Bloomberg Opinion piece argues that India’s rise in artificial intelligence (AI) — symbolised by massive banners, high-profile summit events, and inspirational speeches — doesn’t automatically translate into actual technological power on the global stage. While the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi attracted world leaders, CEOs and major announcements, the article suggests that visibility and spectacle alone fall short of building a substantive AI ecosystem capable of competing with the United States, China, and other technological leaders.
The column notes that impressive rhetoric and diplomatic photo-ops have helped India put itself on the AI map, but true leadership requires deep investments in core components like indigenous research, advanced hardware, and AI-specific infrastructure. India’s strengths — such as a large user base, multilingual digital ecosystem, and growing startup scene — are noteworthy, but they are inputs rather than the outputs of a fully developed AI powerhouse. The piece warns that relying too heavily on PR without strengthening foundational capabilities could leave the country behind in the technology competition.
Critics have also pointed out gaps in India’s AI strategy, including relatively lower levels of private AI investment and limited global footprint in foundational research and chip design. Despite recent commitments to infrastructure and shared GPU access, these measures are still catch-up steps rather than breakthroughs that shift the global balance of AI innovation. The article implies that without a robust pipeline of homegrown models, patents, and deep-tech companies, India may remain a major market and adopter of AI rather than a true innovator.
Ultimately, the Bloomberg opinion suggests that India’s AI ambitions must go beyond summit spectacles and slogans to focus on sustained investment, research capacity, and industrial depth that foster genuine breakthroughs. Building such an ecosystem requires more than large gatherings and diplomatic fanfare; it demands a strategic long-term commitment to competing at the frontier of AI science and infrastructure. The article frames this as a necessary recalibration from AI showmanship to AI substance.
