The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has officially begun at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking the first major global AI summit in the Global South focused on the real-world impact of artificial intelligence. The five-day event, held under the theme “Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay” (for the welfare and happiness of all), brings together global tech leaders such as Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, and Yann LeCun on a single platform.
The summit aims to ensure that AI technology is not limited to wealthy nations or large corporations, but reaches villages, towns, agriculture, healthcare, and education sectors. Featuring over 400 projects and a framework of “seven cycles,” the summit seeks to bridge the digital divide, simplify daily life for citizens, and promote inclusive development.
A Five-Day Convergence of Policy, Research, Industry, and Public Participation
From Monday to Friday, participants will explore how AI is transforming everything from mobile photo editing to banking fraud detection and medical diagnostics. The summit offers a unique opportunity for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and the public to understand the rapidly evolving AI landscape and its societal implications.
Background: AI Summits Around the World
Prior to India, similar summits were held in the UK, South Korea, and France. The first, the AI Safety Summit, took place at Bletchley Park, UK, in November 2023, focusing on AI risks and security. South Korea hosted the AI Seoul Summit in May 2024, emphasizing safe and inclusive AI through scientific collaboration. In February 2025, the AI Action Summit in Paris, co-hosted by France and India, highlighted AI’s role in public welfare and sustainable development. The Delhi summit builds on these discussions, emphasizing development and equity.
Why This Summit in Delhi Matters
The summit positions India at the center of AI discourse in the Global South, focusing on ensuring that AI benefits reach low- and middle-income populations. The government stresses that the event will address the AI divide, narrowing the gap between those with access to technology and those without.
Benefits for Citizens
Attendees will gain insight into practical AI applications in education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance. Demonstrations will showcase AI solutions accessible to rural and small-town populations. Companies will highlight how AI is helping create new jobs, enhance skills, and simplify daily operations. Farmers, students, educators, and small business owners can explore AI tools that improve productivity and efficiency.
How to Attend
Interested participants must register online at impact.indiaai.gov.in. Registration requires an email ID, mobile number, photo, and one government-issued ID. Participants must select their category (Student or Visitor) and complete the form to finalize registration.
Notable Attendees
Over 100 country delegations, including heads of state from 20 nations, ministers, and more than 50 global CEOs, are attending. Key Indian business leaders expected include Mukesh Ambani (RIL), Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Tata Group), Nandan Nilekani (Infosys), Sunil Bharti Mittal (Bharti Enterprises), K. Krithivasan (TCS), Roshni Nadar Malhotra (HCLTech), and Salil Parekh (Infosys).
International tech leaders include:
- Sundar Pichai – CEO, Google & Alphabet
- Demis Hassabis – CEO, DeepMind
- Sam Altman – CEO & Co-founder, OpenAI
- Dario Amodei – CEO & Co-founder, Anthropic
- Brad Smith – President, Microsoft
- Yann LeCun – Chief AI Scientist, Meta
- Cristiano Amon – CEO, Qualcomm
The Summit’s Three Pillars
- People – Ensuring AI benefits every individual, from rural farmers to urban students, by localizing AI systems.
- Planet – Promoting sustainable AI innovation, including smart farming, smart cities, and energy-efficient data centers.
- Progress – Spreading AI-driven prosperity and improving public services and economic growth across rural and urban areas.
The Seven Cycles: Connecting Everyone to AI
The summit’s “seven cycles” highlight key areas of global AI collaboration:
- Human Capital – Equipping people with AI skills and training for the future workforce.
- Social Empowerment – Extending AI benefits to all societal groups.
- Safe & Trusted AI – Ensuring responsible, secure, and reliable AI deployment.
- Innovation & Efficiency – Developing sustainable AI systems while reducing resource disparities.
- Science – Promoting equal access to data and technology for research and innovation.
- AI Resources – Making essential AI tools and computational resources accessible to startups, researchers, and smaller institutions.
- AI for Growth – Using AI to enhance public welfare, employment, and overall economic development.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 promises to be a milestone in making AI inclusive, accessible, and socially transformative. Citizens and industry participants alike will witness how AI can become a tool for equitable growth and progress across the nation.
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