New Delhi: The India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held in New Delhi, has brought together world leaders, technology companies, startups, and researchers to discuss how artificial intelligence can be built and used in a way that is inclusive, responsible, and focused on real-world outcomes. As the first large-scale AI summit hosted in the Global South, the event reflects India’s growing intention to influence global AI conversations while strengthening its own capabilities.
A major highlight of the summit is the government’s IndiaAI Mission, under which Rs 10,372 crore has been committed to developing a strong national AI framework. The initiative covers shared access to tens of thousands of GPUs, the creation of homegrown foundation models, approval of India-focused AI applications, and large investments in skill-building for students and researchers across academic levels.
With representatives from more than 45 countries in attendance, India AI Impact Summit 2026 features global political leaders alongside senior executives from leading technology firms. Discussions focus on narrowing the AI divide between advanced and emerging economies, building trusted and sovereign AI systems, and ensuring that technology supports jobs and public services. The accompanying AI Impact Expo highlights practical AI use cases across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and government services.
India AI Imapct Summit 2026 Live Updates Live Blog
Ankit Kumar, CEO of SkyeAir Mobility
AI Impact 2026 reflects a defining shift in how the world sees India. We are no longer perceived as a backend technology hub, we are emerging as builders of globally scalable AI solutions
INDIA WORKING ON OWN DATA CENTRES
During the expo walk-through, it was noted that India is actively working on building its own data centres and developing a stable homegrown compute infrastructure a key sovereignty play.
MODI INAUGURATES EXPO, TOURS BHARAT MANDAPAM
PM Modi officially inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo 2026 and was seen personally touring the exhibition floor at Bharat Mandapam. The Expo is now open.
RANA DAGGUBATI ON AI IN FILMS: "IT WILL REPLACE ALL OF US QUITE QUICKLY"
Actor Rana Daggubati, asked about AI’s impact on cinema at the expo, said bluntly: “It will replace all of us quite quickly.”
CISCO INDIA MD: "SKILLS THAT MATTER MOST ARE HUMAN"
Harish Krishnan, MD & Chief Policy Officer at Cisco Systems India, speaking on ‘Democratising AI Resources for Economic Growth and Social Good’, AI is augmenting essential human capabilities, not replacing them, and the skills that matter most remain human ones.
RAGHAV CHADHA: AI LEVERS OF POWER CONTROLLED BY GPU ACCESS
AAP MP Raghav Chadha speaking at the summit: “In the 21st century, the levers of power will essentially be controlled by those who have access to AI, GPUs, compute capability and data centres.” He warned of a three-layer AI monopoly, design controlled by one US company, 90% of chip manufacturing by one Taiwanese firm, and export controls designating GPUs as strategic assets. Called on India to urgently build its own sovereign compute capability.
NPCI ROLLS OUT UPI ONE WORLD FOR SUMMIT DELEGATES
National Payments Corporation of India has extended its ‘UPI One World’ wallet service to international delegates attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026. This allows foreign visitors to make UPI payments without needing an Indian mobile number or a local bank account. The pilot service is available to delegates from more than 40 countries taking part in the summit, held at New Delhi from February 16 to 20.
SEVEN CHAKRAS FRAMEWORK EXPLAINED ON FLOOR
Sessions are actively running around the summit’s Seven Chakras framework: Human Capital, Inclusion for Social Empowerment, Safe & Trusted AI, Resilience, Innovation & Efficiency, Science, and Democratizing AI Resources. Each chakra has dedicated breakout sessions running simultaneously.
KYNDRYL CEO MARTIN SCHROETER ON STAGE
Speaking to a panel on enterprise AI governance: AI-driven transformation must balance technological advancement with governance, sustainability, and measurable social impact, not just pilot projects.
PM MODI SPEAKS – "AI IS TRANSFORMING EVERYTHING
PM Modi on X: “AI today is transforming several sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, governance and enterprise. I am confident that the outcomes of the Summit will help shape a future that is progressive, innovative and opportunity-driven.” He adds: “Thanks to the 1.4 billion people of India, our nation stands at the forefront of the AI transformation.”
SAM ALTMAN: INDIA IS CHATGPT'S #2 MARKET
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirms India now has 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users, the platform’s second-largest market globally after the United States, driven primarily by the world’s largest cohort of student AI users. OpenAI made ChatGPT Go free for a year in India specifically to capture this demographic.
2.5 LAKH REGISTRATIONS, EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS
MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan confirms over 250,000 registrations from India and around the world, far beyond what organizers anticipated. All days except February 19 (Modi’s CEO Roundtable) are open to the public. “We never anticipated so many people willing to attend,” Krishnan said.
AI SECURES THE AI SUMMIT
Authorities deploy 10,000+ security personnel across 10 zones and 22 sectors around Bharat Mandapam. The security grid itself runs on AI, 350 AI-enabled cameras, 750+ CCTVs for real-time monitoring, five anti-drone systems, four air defense guns, and 25 bomb disposal teams on standby.
PM Modi Sets to inaugurates the Expo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sets to open the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam this evening, calling it a matter of “immense pride” that world leaders are converging on India. In a post on X he wrote: “This also shows the capability of our country’s youth.” The formal summit inauguration is set for this evening.
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