The Guardian reports on the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, a major international gathering of government leaders, tech companies, and AI experts designed to shape the future of artificial intelligence — especially from the perspective of the Global South. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using the event to position India as a hub for AI innovation and leadership across South Asia and Africa, highlighting AI’s potential to transform sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure. Top executives from major U.S. AI firms — including Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic — are attending alongside leaders from Kenya, Senegal, Indonesia and other regions with relatively low per‑capita wealth.
Modi’s vision for AI emphasizes what some describe as “techno‑Gandhism” — a philosophy where technology serves social justice and upliftment rather than purely commercial goals. United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres warned at the summit against allowing AI to be dominated by wealthy nations, arguing that fair access and global cooperation are essential. At the same time, civil liberties advocates raised concerns about India’s own use of AI for surveillance and potential discrimination, contrasting these worries with the government’s framing of AI for “human‑centric progress.”
For the global tech industry, India represents both a massive market and a strategic partner. Companies like Google are investing heavily in local AI infrastructure and educational programs and have emphasized efforts to support multilingual AI use across India’s diverse population. These investments include ambitious data centres and connectivity projects designed to fuel research, development, and adoption — even as the broader U.S. approach to AI regulation remains more laissez‑faire.
The summit also underscores competing visions of AI’s future: one centered on commercial dominance and rapid technological rollout, and another focused on equitable development and societal benefit. As global leaders, policymakers, and industry executives continue discussions in New Delhi, India’s ambition to lead a more inclusive vision for AI highlights both geopolitical and ethical debates at the heart of the technology’s expansion.
