India launches the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, uniting world leaders to tackle AI safety amid logistical challenges and global governance talks.
PM Modi Opens Global AI Summit Amid Safety Push and Early Disruptions:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the five-day India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on February 16, rallying global leaders to harness AI for humanity while addressing mounting safety risks like job losses and child exploitation. With over 100 nations represented, the event positions India as a bridge between advanced economies and the Global South, but day-one chaos-including endless queues and overcrowding-has spotlighted the challenges of hosting such a massive gathering. As discussions on ethical AI intensify, this summit could define international standards, impacting billions in an era of rapid tech evolution.
India’s AI Summit Opens in Chaos, Pushes Ahead on Safety Talks:
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 opened its doors on February 16 at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, drawing an estimated 70,000 attendees on the first day alone. PM Modi, in his inaugural address, underscored AI’s potential for public good, urging the use of science and technology to empower the masses. He toured exhibits, interacting with startups showcasing AI in healthcare, agriculture, and education.
However, the launch was overshadowed by organizational glitches. Attendees faced hours-long queues, abrupt security sweeps that locked out exhibitors from their booths, and shortages of food and water. Reports of theft from stalls and payment issues-favoring cash over digital methods-added to the frustration.
By Day 2, focus shifted to substantive discussions. Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched SAHI (Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI), aiming to boost AI in health. Sessions explored applied AI in journalism, cricket coaching, and national plans, with emphasis on social equity and sovereign AI models. Traffic snarls persisted, disrupting commutes around the venue.
The summit features a sprawling expo with 13 country pavilions and 600 startups, plus a research symposium on February 18 for interdisciplinary AI discussions. Finalists from three global challenges-AI for ALL (20 teams), AI by HER (30 teams), and YUVAi (20 teams)-presented innovations in areas like mental health support, cervical cancer screening, and deepfake detection on February 16-17.
India Leads AI Governance: Pioneering Global South Summit:
India’s foray into global AI leadership builds on its 2023 chairmanship of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) and the launch of the IndiaAI Mission in 2024, allocating 103 billion rupees ($1.25 billion) for AI infrastructure. This summit, the first major AI event in the Global South, follows international forums like the UK AI Safety Summit and France AI Action Summit, aiming to amplify developing nations’ voices in AI governance.
Safety concerns loom large amid AI’s rapid growth. Issues like algorithmic bias, data privacy, and workforce displacement-potentially affecting 800 million jobs globally by 2030-drive the agenda. India’s push for “Safe & Trusted AI” aligns with its digital public infrastructure successes, like Aadhaar and UPI, positioning it to lead equitable AI adoption.
With 250,000 expected visitors and 300+ exhibitors, it could yield a “shared roadmap” for AI collaboration, influencing policies on child safety and job disruption. Pre-summit activities, including workshops on AI in weather modeling and sustainable growth, set the stage for actionable outcomes.