New Delhi (IANS): The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced in the national capital on Monday, bringing together over 80 foreign leaders and more than 500 global artificial intelligence experts in what is being described as the first global AI convening of this scale in the Global South.
The five-day summit, being held at Bharat Mandapam, will continue till February 20. It has drawn participation from over 100 government representatives, including more than 20 heads of state and government, and 60 Ministers and Vice Ministers. The gathering also features CEOs, founders, academicians, researchers, CTOs, and philanthropic organisations from across the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address on February 19, outlining India’s vision for inclusive and responsible AI and calling for enhanced global cooperation.
Flagship Global Impact Challenges
A key highlight of the summit is the culmination of three flagship Global Impact Challenges — AI for ALL, AI by HER and YUVAi — aimed at accelerating scalable and development-oriented AI solutions. The challenges collectively received more than 4,650 applications from over 60 countries, underscoring strong international participation and India’s growing stature as a hub for responsible AI innovation.
Following a multi-stage evaluation by domain experts, policymakers and industry leaders, the top 70 teams have been shortlisted as finalists. They will showcase their innovations during the Grand Finale and Awards Felicitation Ceremony on February 16 and 17 at Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan. The finalists will engage with investors, policymakers and academic leaders to explore opportunities for scaling their solutions globally.
Research Symposium and Global Participation
The Research Symposium on AI and Its Impact, organised in partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad on February 18, serves as the summit’s principal academic platform. The symposium has received around 250 research submissions from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Among the prominent attendees are Alar Karis and Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. Discussions are expected to focus on AI-driven scientific discovery, safety and governance frameworks, equitable access to computing infrastructure, and strengthening research collaboration across the Global South.
The summit marks a significant milestone in India’s push to position itself as a leading voice in shaping responsible, inclusive and development-centric AI on the global stage.
