On the second day of the five-day India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the aim of this summit is to explore how AI can be used for the benefit of all. Prime Minister Modi wrote in a post on social media platform ‘X’, ‘Intelligence, rationality and decision-making ability make science and technology useful to the public. The India AI Impact Summit also aims to explore how AI can be used for the benefit of all.’
First global conference on AI in the Global South
The India AI Impact Summit 2026, which began on February 16, brought together heads of state and government, ministers, global technology leaders, eminent researchers, multilateral institutions and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the role of AI in driving inclusive growth, strengthening public systems and enabling sustainable development. Also, this is the first time that such a large-scale global conference on this issue is being organized in the Global South.
Summit concludes on 20th February
The five-day summit, which will conclude on February 20, will be attended by over 100 government representatives, including over 20 heads of state, 60 ministers and deputy ministers, as well as over 500 global AI leaders, including CEOs, founders, academics, researchers, CTOs and philanthropic organizations. On February 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the inaugural address, which will set the tone for global collaboration and present India’s vision for inclusive and responsible AI.
What are the major attractions of the conference?
A major highlight of the summit are three major global impact challenges – AI for All, AI by Everyone and YuviAI – culminating with the announcement of finalists and a grand finale showcase. These challenges, aimed at promoting inclusive, responsible and growth-oriented AI, were launched to accelerate scalable, high-impact AI solutions in line with national priorities and global development objectives. Over 4650 applications were received for these challenges from over 60 countries, reflecting strong international participation and reinforcing India’s emergence as a credible global hub for responsible and scalable AI (Artificial Intelligence) innovation. After a rigorous multidisciplinary evaluation conducted by experts, policy makers and industry leaders from multiple fields, the top 70 teams in all three categories have been selected as finalists. These finalists will connect with policy makers, industry leaders, investors and academicians, as well as receive recognition and support to promote their innovations at the national and global levels. An important research symposium on AI and its wider implications is being organized in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad on 18 February. This seminar is being considered as the main educational platform of the summit,
Where there will be serious discussions on many aspects related to AI. The symposium received approximately 250 research submissions from countries including Africa, Asia and Latin America, reflecting global interest and engagement in the topic. Estonian President Alar Karis and Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnav are also participating in the program. It brings together globally renowned AI experts and leading research institutions to discuss AI-powered scientific discoveries, security and governance frameworks, equitable access to infrastructure, and research collaboration in the Global South.