The United States has signed onto a non-binding international declaration on artificial intelligence that was adopted at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, joining roughly 88 nations and organisations in endorsing shared principles for how AI should be developed and governed globally. The declaration emerged at the conclusion of the summit as a broad statement of collective intent to make AI beneficial — through cooperation, inclusive access, and ethical frameworks — rather than as a legally enforceable treaty.
In signing the declaration, U.S. officials emphasised support for a “shared global vision” that includes democratizing AI resources, using the technology to promote economic and social development, and encouraging energy-efficient AI systems. The text reflects encouragement for voluntary, industry-led standards and technical solutions aimed at security throughout the AI lifecycle, along with frameworks that balance innovation with public interest.
Importantly, the U.S. endorsement comes after Washington declined to sign a similar international AI declaration at the AI Action Summit in Paris in 2025, where U.S. officials argued that too broad a governance framework could hamper innovation. At that earlier summit, the U.S. delegation underlined a preference for less prescriptive approaches, focusing on opportunity-oriented policy rather than binding safety regulations.
While the New Delhi declaration reflects broad global interest in cooperative AI development, it remains voluntary and non-binding, and does not include detailed regulatory obligations. Analysts note that because it lacks enforcement mechanisms or measurable targets, its effectiveness will depend on how countries translate its principles into national policy and multilateral action over time.
