{"id":28348,"date":"2026-02-17T06:06:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/india-ai-summit-raises-call-for-sovereign-ai-what-is-it-and-what-are-the-challenges-tech-news\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T06:06:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:06:40","slug":"india-ai-summit-raises-call-for-sovereign-ai-what-is-it-and-what-are-the-challenges-tech-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/india-ai-summit-raises-call-for-sovereign-ai-what-is-it-and-what-are-the-challenges-tech-news\/","title":{"rendered":"India AI Summit Raises Call For Sovereign AI: What Is It And What Are The Challenges? | Tech News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9908941\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">February 17, 2026, 11:35 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9908941\" class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 asubttl-schema\">India is demanding more local AI players to grab the market and make the data of billions of users available within the borders.<\/h2>\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" title=\"font\" class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 artsharwrp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.whatsapp.com\/send?text=India%20AI%20Summit%20Raises%20Call%20For%20Sovereign%20AI%3A%20What%20Is%20It%20And%20What%20Are%20The%20Challenges%3F - %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/india-ai-summit-raises-call-for-sovereign-ai-what-is-it-and-what-are-the-challenges-ws-e-9908941.html%3Futm_source%3Dwhatsapp%26utm_medium%3Dsocial_share%26utm_campaign%3Dnw18english%0D%0A %0D%0A Get the latest news anytime, anywhere. Install News18 app for free! %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/onelink.to\/website-share-eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 sclrnd wapp social_share\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 notifycnt social_share\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_share_icon.svg\" alt=\"new share icon\" title=\"new share icon\" width=\"8\" height=\"9\" class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 social_share\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_whatsapp_icon.svg\" alt=\"new whatsapp icon\" title=\"new whatsapp icon\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" class=\"jsx-77f77059f24b3304 social_share\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 amimg\">\n<div class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 amimgwrp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"News18\" title=\"News18\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078\"\/><i class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 imgzoom\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/zoom-img.svg\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 imgzoomicn tap_to_zoom\"\/><\/i><\/div>\n<p>News18<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 flscrnimgwrp \"><img class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 flscrnimg\"\/><span class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"44\" height=\"44\" viewbox=\"0 0 44 44\" fill=\"none\" class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 flscrncls\"><circle cx=\"22\" cy=\"22\" r=\"22\" transform=\"rotate(-90 22 22)\" fill=\"#111111\" fill-opacity=\"0.9\" class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078\"\/><path d=\"M29.7757 16.8142L23.9651 22.6248L29.7757 28.4355L28.3108 29.9004L22.5002 24.0897L16.6896 29.9004L15.2247 28.4355L21.0353 22.6248L15.2247 16.8142L16.6896 15.3493L22.5002 21.16L28.3108 15.3493L29.7757 16.8142Z\" fill=\"white\" class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The India AI Impact Summit is going on in Delhi this week, where you have giants like Sam Altman from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google\u2019s Sundar Pichai and more are part of the big event. The focus on AI is undeniable and even the Indian government is looking to make a big dash with a global event like these, especially when you have the makers of ChatGPT and Gemini in the mix.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">But the longer game plan involves companies from India offering their locally-built AI models and features, which is where the clamour for Sovereign AI has been making the headlines for the last few months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><strong>Sovereign AI For India: The Need Of The Hour, Year And Decade<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Sarvam AI and its complimenting tools are claimed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/made-in-india-sarvam-ai-beats-chatgpt-and-gemini-heres-what-we-can-tell-ws-e-9893842.html\">be better at ChatGPT and Gemini in various AI benchmark tests and that shows the power<\/a> of having a local AI model to understand the geographical needs. The government is using Sarvam as an example to get other startups and companies to build for India, and also join its IndiaAI Mission.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Sovereign AI has been talked about a lot across events and government hosting, and with the high demand and usage of ChatGPT and Gemini (both US-based models) has clearly alarmed the government to build AI tools that people can use within the country. Any possible data mishap with the global AI giants will be hard for India\u2019s regime to act on, which is not the case with a locally-built AI model like Sarvam and others to come in the near future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><strong>Demand For Whole AI Stack<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The demand for sovereign AI is credible and paramount for the success of the industry in India. But for the technology to thrive but also survive, we need all the resources to be set up locally. This includes the hardware + software AI stack, built indigenously, and no external support required. Because if you want AI models (and agents) to handle your confidential data, you (and the government) don\u2019t want the data to cross the borders to servers in the US or other regions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">You also realise the importance of context with AI models and how they can easily hallucinate if the training isn\u2019t localised through the foreign models. This is why Sarvam performs better in Indic languages than ChatGPT and even Google\u2019s Gemini, which shows the value of sovereign AI models.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">There is a big reason why Gemini and ChatGPT are available for free in India for billions, and the government sees the need to intervene and get the local players assembled, and give them the platform to battle with the best in the world. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The next few years are going to be pivotal for India\u2019s own AI ambitions and with events like the AI Summit being held, the future only shows one direction and that is keeping AI well and truly local. <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-18814a1d8226d353 artnws newsletter\">\n<p>Handpicked stories, in your inbox<\/p>\n<p>A newsletter with the best of our journalism<\/p>\n<p><input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Enter Your Email\" class=\"jsx-18814a1d8226d353 artnwinpt\" value=\"\"\/><button class=\"jsx-18814a1d8226d353 subscrbe newsletter\">submit<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 atbtlink Location\"><span>Location :<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Delhi, India, India<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>February 17, 2026, 11:35 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/\">tech<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> India AI Summit Raises Call For Sovereign AI: What Is It And What Are The Challenges?<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-c88456722e94b84d jsx-1574155078 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/tech\/india-ai-summit-raises-call-for-sovereign-ai-what-is-it-and-what-are-the-challenges-ws-e-9908941.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 11:35 IST India is demanding more local AI players to grab the market and make the data of billions of users available within the borders. News18 The India AI Impact Summit is going on in Delhi this week, where you have giants like Sam Altman from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google\u2019s Sundar Pichai&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}