India AI Impact Summit 2026 Delhi: Live Coverage, Speakers, Agenda & Key Highlights from Bharat Mandapam
India AI Impact Summit 2026: Why This Historic Delhi Event
Matters Globally
As of February 16, 2026, New Delhi stands at the center of the global artificial intelligence conversation. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 officially kicked off today at Bharat Mandapam, marking the first major international AI summit ever hosted in the Global South. Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, this five-day event (February 16–20, 2026) shifts the focus from AI safety and dialogue to tangible, measurable impact — especially for developing economies, inclusive growth, and real-world deployment.
With over 250,000 expected visitors, 850+ exhibitors in the parallel AI Impact Expo, 30+ countries represented, 20+ heads of state or national leaders, and 45+ ministerial delegations, the summit positions India as a bridge between the Global North and South in shaping ethical, accessible, and people-centric AI.
Why This Summit Matters: People, Planet, Progress
The India AI Impact Summit is built around three core pillars:
- People — Skilling the workforce, protecting jobs, ensuring child safety online, and preventing AI-driven misinformation from undermining democracies.
- Planet — Harnessing AI for climate resilience, sustainable energy, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
- Progress — Democratizing compute resources, data infrastructure, sovereign AI stacks, and accelerating innovation in healthcare, education, and economic inclusion.
Unlike previous summits (UK AI Safety, Seoul, France AI Action), this edition emphasizes implementation over discussion — showcasing scalable AI solutions, launching challenges like YUVAi Global Youth Challenge and AI by HER, and driving commitments toward a shared global roadmap for responsible AI governance.
Day 1 Highlights (February 16, 2026): Inauguration & Momentum
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit and the AI Impact Expo this afternoon, welcoming delegates with the message: “The world is coming to India” for the future of AI. In his remarks, he highlighted India’s youth, rapid tech progress, and commitment to technology that empowers every section of society.
Early sessions covered:
- AI and the future of skilling
- National security in the AI era
- Public audit transparency via AI
- Responsible adoption requiring deliberate policy commitment (not drift), as noted by Chief Economic Advisor
The expo (open to public from February 17) features thematic pavilions, startups, and public-sector innovations demonstrating AI in action.
Star-Studded Speaker Lineup & Key Tech Leaders
The summit attracts an unprecedented array of global tech and policy heavyweights. Confirmed or expected high-profile attendees include:
- Sundar Pichai (CEO, Google & Alphabet)
- Sam Altman (CEO, OpenAI)
- Dario Amodei (CEO, Anthropic)
- Demis Hassabis (CEO, Google DeepMind)
- Mukesh Ambani (Chairman, Reliance Industries)
(Note: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang withdrew due to unforeseen circumstances.)
Additional voices come from government leaders of ~20 countries (including Brazil, France), multilateral institutions (World Bank, ADB, UN), academia, and civil society — creating one of the most diverse AI forums to date.
Key Themes & Sessions Across the Week
The agenda spans high-level plenaries, thematic panels, roundtables, and side events (including UN ODET collaborations). Highlights include:
- Democratizing AI Compute & Data Infrastructure
- Harnessing AI for Equitable & Resilient Health Systems
- AI and Economic Progress: Linking Innovation & Inclusive Growth
- Power, Protection & Progress: Legislators in the AI Era
- AI-Generated Misinformation & Threats to Democracies
- AI for Social Good & Impact That Works (research-policy seminar on Feb 17)
Discussions address urgent questions:
- How can AI augment — rather than displace — livelihoods?
- Bridging the North-South adoption gap
- Building trusted, sovereign AI ecosystems
- Ethical governance frameworks that prioritize inclusion
India’s Vision: From Host to Global AI Leader
Hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) under the IndiaAI Mission, the summit aligns with PM Modi’s vision of “tech for public good.” India aims to:
- Showcase indigenous and ethical AI capabilities
- Attract investment and partnerships
- Influence global norms with a Global South perspective
- Accelerate domestic AI adoption in priority sectors
The event builds on momentum from earlier summits while carving a distinct identity focused on impact that works — especially in healthcare, agriculture, education, energy, and skilling.
Looking Ahead: Outcomes & Legacy
By February 20, participants expect concrete deliverables: policy pathways, collaborative frameworks, showcased innovations from youth/global challenges, and commitments to inclusive AI deployment.
For India, this is more than a conference — it’s proof of rising technological leadership and a platform to ensure AI benefits reach the last mile, not just the boardroom.
Stay tuned to our site for live updates, session recaps, key announcements, and analysis as the India AI Impact Summit 2026 unfolds in New Delhi. This week could define how the world approaches responsible, inclusive artificial intelligence for years to come.
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