India Prepares to Host AI Impact Summit 2026, Focuses on Democratising Artificial Intelligence
New Delhi: As India gears up to host the global AI Impact Summit 2026, the country’s approach to democratising artificial intelligence is being positioned as a model where scale, inclusion and innovation can advance together, according to an official statement released on Tuesday.
The statement said India’s focus on affordability, openness and trust aims to ensure that the benefits of AI reach a wide section of society, including farmers, students, researchers, startups and public institutions. It added that democratising AI is not a one-time exercise but a long-term commitment to using technology to reduce inequalities and support sustainable development.
For many countries, particularly those in the Global South, access to AI depends on the availability of foundational resources such as data, computing power and digital infrastructure. India’s approach seeks to address these challenges through collaboration and shared capacity building.
The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to bring together 15 to 20 Heads of Government, more than 50 international ministers, and over 100 global and Indian CXOs. The summit’s discussions will be organised through Chakras, or working groups, structured around seven interconnected thematic areas.
Among these, the Democratizing AI Resources Working Group has been highlighted as a key initiative. Co-chaired by India, Egypt and Kenya, the group aims to promote a more inclusive and balanced global AI ecosystem through shared access, cooperation and capacity building.
The statement noted that ensuring AI infrastructure remains open, affordable and widely accessible is central to the democratisation effort. India’s strategy is guided by its full AI stack, spanning applications, models, compute, infrastructure and energy, with all layers treated as interconnected national capabilities.
This approach is being supported by the IndiaAI Mission, approved in March 2024 with a financial outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore over five years. The mission focuses on expanding access, strengthening data availability and enabling responsible use of AI for public good.
The AI Impact Summit 2026 will be held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam. As the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, it is expected to bring together global leaders, policymakers, technology companies, innovators and experts to deliberate on the role of AI in inclusive growth, governance and sustainable development.
Our Thoughts
India hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 marks a significant moment for the Global South in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. By placing affordability, openness and trust at the centre of its strategy, India is attempting to shift the global AI conversation away from concentration and towards shared progress. The real challenge will lie in translating these principles into long-term cooperation and measurable outcomes, especially for countries that lack access to critical digital infrastructure. If successful, the summit could help redefine how emerging economies participate in and benefit from the AI revolution.