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The AI summit is not merely a showcase of innovation but a strategic signal that the Global South is no longer a silent consumer of technology but a leading voice in its governance
India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. Images/X
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has emerged as a watershed moment in the global technological landscape, positioning New Delhi as the primary architect of the “third way” in artificial intelligence. Hosted at the iconic Bharat Mandapam, the summit has drawn over 2.5 lakh visitors and a formidable assembly of global leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and top tech moguls like Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai. This gathering is not merely a showcase of innovation but a strategic signal that the Global South is no longer a silent consumer of technology but a leading voice in its governance.
A New Economic Frontier
The economic narrative surrounding the summit has been nothing short of extraordinary. Shekhar Kapur, the veteran filmmaker, captured the collective optimism by predicting that AI could add a staggering $1 trillion annually to India’s GDP. He noted that the “democratic nature” of AI allows it to bypass traditional institutional barriers, empowering youth who may not have attended elite institutes like the IITs. Similarly, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for IT and Electronics, projected a multi-billion-dollar pipeline, suggesting that India could attract over $200 billion in AI-related investments over the next two years across infrastructure, semiconductors, and energy layers.
The Talent and Capital Surge
The summit has served as a catalyst for massive capital deployment. Rajan Anandan, Managing Director at Peak XV Partners, used the platform to highlight the critical need for “talent density”. He pointed out that while the US and UK have thousands of top-tier AI researchers, India currently has around 200, setting a national goal of 10,000 to 15,000 world-class researchers to “win the race”. To back this vision, Peak XV announced an investment of ₹160 crore into five early-stage AI startups, focusing on “population-scale” products that solve real-world needs for India’s 900 million internet users.
Focal Point for Intense Debate
While the atmosphere at Bharat Mandapam remains celebratory, the summit has also become a focal point for intense debate on AI regulation. The government’s move to tighten social media rules—requiring platforms to take down “problematic” AI-generated content within just three hours—has sparked significant conversation. While digital rights activists like Nikhil Pahwa have voiced concerns, he termed the summit a “transformational moment”, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for bringing the event to India.
A Civilisational Inflection Point
Prominent economist Steve Hanke and other global observers have noted that India’s “Sovereign AI” approach is a departure from both the American market-led model and the European regulation-heavy model. By anchoring the summit in the “Seven Sutras”—including Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhaye (Welfare for all, happiness of all)—India is advocating for an AI ecosystem that is inclusive and development-oriented. As the summit concludes, the “Delhi Declaration” is expected to formalise this vision, ensuring that the blueprints for the future are shared across the Global South, transforming AI from a threat of displacement into a tool for universal empowerment.
February 18, 2026, 16:52 IST
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