New Delhi hosted the inaugural India AI Impact Summit on , positioning itself as a key player in the rapidly evolving global landscape of artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event at Bharat Mandapam, framing it as the first major international AI summit originating from the Global South.
The five-day summit, running through , aims to explore the practical applications of AI across critical sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance, operating under the guiding principle of “People, Planet, Progress.” The event features participation from over 600 startups and national pavilions representing 13 countries – Australia, Japan, Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan, and nations from the African continent.
Modi, in a pre-summit statement, emphasized India’s ambition to become a global data hub, stating, “Data centres will be a massive job creator for our youth. We invite the whole world’s data to reside in India.” This declaration underscores the government’s focus on leveraging India’s expanding digital infrastructure and computing power to foster a thriving AI ecosystem. On X, Modi articulated the summit’s core philosophy, stating the theme is “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya or welfare for all, happiness for all, reflecting our shared commitment to harnessing Artificial Intelligence for human-centric progress.”
The summit has drawn participation from leading figures in the global technology sector, including representatives from OpenAI and Google, alongside world leaders. This broad representation signals a growing international interest in collaborating with India on AI governance and development, particularly in amplifying the voices of developing nations in shaping global AI norms. Day two of the summit, on , focused on applied AI, social equity, and featured panels with UN representatives like Amandeep Singh Gill and Amitabh Kant of NITI Aayog.
However, the summit’s launch was not without its challenges. Reports emerged of significant logistical issues on the opening day, with attendees facing lengthy queues, overcrowding, and confusion due to unclear instructions and inadequate signage. Security sweeps requiring abrupt evacuations further disrupted proceedings, causing attendees to scramble to retrieve belongings. Some speakers reportedly awaited confirmation of their session slots even on the second day of the event. Journalists covering the summit voiced frustrations over entry procedures, citing issues with digital QR codes and missing physical passes, leading to delays in reporting.
Despite these initial setbacks, organizers continued with scheduled keynotes, panel discussions, and roundtable sessions. The summit’s agenda prioritizes the development of sovereign AI models, democratized access to AI technologies, and scalable solutions, aiming to position India as a leader in ethical and inclusive AI development. Sanjay Malhotra, a central banker, urged attendees to proactively engage with AI, stating, “AI is happening, it is relentless, if you don’t do AI, AI will be done to you… Set a personal target of learning how to use three AI platforms within the next three months.”
The India AI Impact Summit represents a significant investment in the country’s AI capabilities, with the government having allocated Rs 10,372 crore under the IndiaAI Mission. This funding is directed towards building a comprehensive AI ecosystem, including onboarding over 38,000 GPUs for shared compute access, developing 12 indigenous foundation models, and approving over 30 India-specific AI applications. Talent development is also a key focus, with support provided to thousands of students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies in AI-related fields.
As the summit progresses, observers anticipate breakthroughs in international collaboration and policy formulation. For India, the event serves as a crucial test of its readiness to lead in the next chapter of AI development, balancing ambitious goals with the practical challenges of implementation. The participation of leaders from over 45 countries, including Emmanuel Macron, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Antonio Guterres, alongside a strong US delegation and industry executives from companies like Microsoft, IBM, Zoom, Kyndryl, and Adobe, underscores the global significance of the event and India’s growing role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
