The Time report critically assesses the India AI Impact Summit 2026 — the largest global gathering on artificial intelligence ever held — noting that while the event drew world leaders, tech CEOs, and massive investment pledges, it fell short of delivering meaningful progress on global AI cooperation. Hosted in New Delhi, the summit was intended to unite governments around AI risk governance but instead largely became a showcase for trade deals and technological promotion. Officials touted India’s digital infrastructure and domestic talent, and companies announced partnerships and investment plans with Indian firms, but there was limited focus on creating binding agreements on ethical AI regulations or shared standards.
One notable geopolitical absence was China, whose leaders and representatives were largely missing due to the summit coinciding with the Chinese New Year, highlighting a critical gap in global AI diplomacy at an event meant to foster inclusivity among major powers. Despite Indian government statements promoting data sharing and language inclusion initiatives, critics argued that the summit made no substantive advances on coordinating international AI risk mitigation — a key theme in previous summits held in Paris and elsewhere. According to observers, this reflects persistent challenges in bridging geopolitical divides and aligning the priorities of competing nations and tech conglomerates.
Many of the keynote speeches and panel discussions emphasised India’s ambitions as an independent AI power and the economic potential of AI technologies, rather than delving into difficult issues like job displacement, ethical safeguards, infrastructure demands, or power imbalances in the AI landscape. Executives from major AI firms — although underwhelming attendance in some panels was reported — shared optimistic projections about AI’s capacity to contribute to economic growth, while government messaging stressed inclusion and welfare. Yet civil society advocates and delegates raised concerns that such narratives risk glossing over real social impacts without concrete policy frameworks to accompany visionary rhetoric.
The summit also underscored shifting global dynamics in AI development — where “middle powers” such as India and European nations seek to carve out strategic autonomy amid the dominance of U.S. and Chinese tech ecosystems. Officials from the U.S. emphasised partnerships and shared AI sovereignty, encouraging cooperative engagement with partner nations. However, analysts pointed out that most frontier AI innovation and infrastructure remain concentrated in the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, China, raising skepticism about whether truly multipolar AI governance or equitable global dialogue is achievable without deeper commitments and wider participation.
