Key Highlights
- Inaugural Event: PM Narendra Modi officially opens the summit and the AI Impact Expo today at 5 PM at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
- Global Participation: Attendance includes French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and tech titans such as Sundar Pichai (Google), Sam Altman (OpenAI), and Jensen Huang (NVIDIA).
- Sovereign AI: The Indian government will unveil 12 indigenous foundation AI models designed for local languages and specific national needs under the IndiaAI Mission.
- Massive Scale: The expo covers 70,000 square meters, featuring 10 arenas, 300+ exhibition pavilions, and over 600 startups.
- Strategic Themes: The summit is anchored by three “Sutras”, People, Planet, and Progress, expanding into seven “Chakras” focusing on areas like AI safety and skilling.
Today marks the beginning of a transformative chapter in the global technology landscape as the India AI Impact Summit 2026 kicks off in the national capital. Running from February 16th to 20th, this five-day mega event is historic as the first major international AI summit hosted in the Global South. It serves as a bridge between high-tech innovation and responsible governance, aiming to democratize AI resources for developing nations.
The event is structured around three core principles, or “Sutras”, known as People, Planet, and Progress. These principles guide the 500+ sessions where over 3,250 experts will deliberate on the economic, social, and ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence.
Global Leaders and Tech Titans
The summit has drawn an unprecedented assembly of world leaders and industry luminaries. Joining Prime Minister Modi are French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, UN Secretary General António Guterres, and the Crown Prince of the UAE.
From the heart of Silicon Valley, the presence of Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei underscores India’s growing importance in the AI ecosystem. This high-level participation is complemented by a massive US industry delegation led by Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen and FedEx’s Raj Subramanian.
A Push for ‘Atmanirbhar’ AI
A major highlight of the summit is the unveiling of 12 indigenous foundation AI models. Developed under the ₹10,372 crore IndiaAI Mission, these models are trained on vast Indian datasets to ensure sovereign capability in generative AI. Shortlisted teams include innovators like Sarvam AI, Soket AI, and the IIT Bombay Consortium (BharatGen). These models are specifically tailored to bridge linguistic gaps and address local challenges in sectors like healthcare and governance.
Day 1: Impactful Solutions and Real-World Challenges
The first day focuses on immediate, tangible applications of technology. A key session involves the Ministry of Transport and various IITs, who are brainstorming how AI can analyze accident patterns to improve road safety. Another critical track, “Smart and Empowered Agriculture,” explores AI’s role in climate, sensitive farmin,g and sustainable crop management.
Beyond the technical showcases, the summit will tackle the “Future of Work.” Experts are set to analyze the shifting employment landscape, focusing on how AI creates new job categories and the urgent need for large-scale skill development to prevent workforce displacement. The summit also looks at the judiciary, discussing how AI can support virtual courts and reduce the massive backlog of legal cases.
The AI Impact Expo
While the summit hosts high-level policy discussions, the AI Impact Expo provides a hands-on look at the future. Spanning 13 country pavilions, including France, Japan, and the UK, the expo features live demonstrations of population-scale AI solutions already being deployed in real-world settings.
