World leaders and tech executives gather in New Delhi to discuss AI’s societal and economic impacts.

New Delhi opened the fourth annual AI Impact Summit on February 16, 2026, convening global leaders, policymakers, and technology executives to address both opportunities and risks posed by artificial intelligence.

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The five-day conference, inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to establish a “shared roadmap for global AI governance and collaboration.” Modi described the summit as proof of India’s rapid advancement in science and technology and a demonstration of the country’s young talent, posting on X that the event “demonstrates the capability of our youth.”

The Indian government expects around 250,000 attendees from the AI sector, including 20 heads of state and 45 ministerial delegations. Leaders confirmed to attend include Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Top executives such as Sam Altman of OpenAI and Sundar Pichai of Google will participate, though Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang canceled his appearance.

Modi plans to use the summit to strengthen global partnerships and assert India’s leadership in AI over the coming decade through discussions with international leaders. However, some experts remain skeptical about concrete outcomes. Amba Kak, co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, told AFP that prior industry pledges “have largely been limited self-regulation frameworks that place AI companies in the position of policing their own duties.”

While the rising demand for generative AI has boosted profits and stock prices for major technology firms, it has also amplified concerns over societal and environmental impacts. Summit discussions will cover a broad range of issues, from employment shifts to child safety, though some participants worry that the wide agenda may complicate the adoption of actionable government commitments.

India’s AI Impact Summit highlights the tension between rapid technological growth, economic opportunity, and the global challenge of regulating emerging AI technologies.

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