The India AI Impact Summit 2026, which concluded recently in New Delhi, positioned India as a global artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse. The summit saw over $200 billion in investment pledges for infrastructure, computing capacity and B2B partnerships. The New Delhi Declaration on AI, large data centre commitments, and a focus on sovereign and responsible AI were some of the other key takeaways from the event. During his inaugural address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s technological strengths and its vision for an AI future. Edited excerpts…

India is home to the world’s largest youth population, the biggest pool of tech talent and one of the most expansive tech-enabled ecosystems. India not only creates new technologies but also adopts them at an unprecedented pace.

The AI Impact Summit being hosted in India has been a matter of pride not only for India but for the entire Global South. With representation from over 100 countries and distinguished participants from across the globe, this summit has reached new heights of success. The exhibition at the summit has also generated immense enthusiasm. The solutions presented here – for agriculture, security, assistance for persons with disabilities, and addressing the needs of multilingual populations – are powerful examples of the country’s Made in India strength and its innovative capabilities.

New technologies are typically met with scepticism in their early stages. Yet, the speed and trust with which the world’s youth are embracing AI, taking ownership of it and using it is truly extraordinary.

AI-led transformation

In human history, every few centuries a turning point arrives – one that resets the direction of civilisation, changes the pace of development and transforms the paradigms of how we think, understand and work. The fascinating part is that when we are living through such a transformation, we rarely grasp its true impact. When sparks were first struck from stone, no one imagined that this would become the foundation of civilisation. When speech was first turned into script, no one foresaw that written knowledge would become the backbone of future systems. When signals were first transmitted wirelessly, no one could have imagined that one day the entire world would be connected in real time.

AI is such a transformation in human history. What we see today and what we predict today are only the early signs of its impact. AI is making machines intelligent, but more importantly, it is multiplying human capability many times over. The difference this time is that both the speed and the scale are unprecedented. Earlier, it took decades for technology to show its impact. Today, the journey from machine learning to learning machines is faster, deeper and broader.

Therefore, our vision must be equally expansive and our responsibility equally profound. Alongside the present generation, we must consider what form of AI we will hand over to future generations. The real question is not what AI can do in the future, but what we choose to do with it today.

Humanity has faced such questions before. The most powerful example is nuclear power – we have seen its destructive force, and we have seen its positive contributions. AI too is a transformative power: if directionless, it leads to disruption; if guided rightly, it becomes a solution. How to make AI human-centric rather than machine-centric, and sensitive and responsible rather than reckless has been the core purpose of the India AI Impact Summit.

India’s perspective

India’s perspective on AI is clearly reflected in the theme of this summit: Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya – Welfare for all, Happiness for all. This is our benchmark. AI must not reduce human beings to mere data points or raw material. Therefore, AI must be democratised. It must become a medium of inclusion and empowerment, especially across the Global South.

We must give AI an open sky, but keep the command in our own hands. Just like GPS – it suggests the route, but the final decision of direction is ours. The path we choose for AI today will determine the future we create tomorrow.

India’s vision for AI, MANAV, meaning human, stands for: M – moral and ethical systems, which means AI must be built on ethical guidelines; A – accountable governance, meaning transparent rules and robust oversight; N – national sovereignty, that is, data belongs to those who generate it; A – accessible and inclusive, which means that AI must not be a monopoly, but a multiplier; V – valid and legitimate: AI must be lawful and verifiable. India’s MANAV vision will be a vital link for human welfare in the AI-driven world of the 21st century.

Decades ago, when the internet began, no one imagined how many jobs it would create. The same is true for AI. Today, it is difficult to predict what kinds of jobs will emerge in this field. The future of work is not pre-defined; it will depend on our decisions and our course of action. I believe the future of work is a new opportunity. This is the era of humans and intelligent systems working together. We are entering an era where humans and intelligent systems co-create, co-work and co-evolve. AI will make our work smarter, more efficient and more impactful. We will design better, build faster and make stronger decisions. More people will find higher-value, creative and meaningful roles. This is a great opportunity for innovation, entrepreneurship and new industries. Therefore, skilling, reskilling and lifelong learning must become a mass movement.

The future of work will be inclusive, trusted and human-centric. If we move forward together, AI will elevate the capacity of humanity to new heights.

Transparency is the greatest safeguard. Some countries and companies believe AI is a “strategic asset” and must be developed confidentially. But India thinks differently. We believe AI will benefit the world only when it is shared. When codes are open and shared, millions of young minds can make them safer and better. Therefore, let us resolve to develop AI as a global common good.

Another urgent need today is to establish global standards. Deepfakes and fabricated content are destabilising open societies. In the physical world, we see nutrition labels on food so we know what we are consuming. Similarly, in the digital world, content must carry authenticity labels so people know what is real and what is AI-generated. As AI produces more text, images and videos, the need for watermarking and clear source standards grows. That is why trust must be built into technology from the very beginning.

In the global journey of AI, aspirational India has a major role to play. Recognising this responsibility, India is taking significant steps today. Through our AI mission, India currently has 38,000 GPUs, and in the next six months, we will add 24,000 more. We are providing world-class computing power to our startups at very affordable rates. We have also created an AI Co-STE, through which more than 7,500 datasets and 270 AI models have been shared as national resources.

Ethical use of AI

No matter the era, ethics have always been at the heart of discussions. The difference is that earlier, the scope of unethical behaviour was limited, but in AI, its scope is infinite. Hence, for AI, we must also expand the scope of ethical behaviour and norms to infinity. AI companies carry a huge responsibility: alongside profit, they must also focus on purpose. Such ethical commitments are urgently needed. At an individual level, AI is influencing our learning, intelligence and emotions.

I have three suggestions for the ethical use of AI. First, while respecting data sovereignty, we must create a data framework for AI training. As the saying goes in AI: Garbage in, garbage out. If data is not secure, balanced and reliable, then the output cannot be trusted. Therefore, a global trusted data framework is essential. Second, AI platforms must keep their safety rules clear and transparent. We need a glass-box approach instead of a black-box approach, where safety rules can be seen and verified. This will ensure accountability and boost ethical behaviour in business. Third, in AI research, the paperclip problem is often cited. If a machine is given the sole goal of making paperclips, it may sacrifice all the world’s resources just to achieve that. Hence, AI needs clear human values and guidance. Technology is powerful, but direction must always be set by humans.

India’s direction on AI and its vision are clear. AI is a shared resource for the welfare of all humanity. Together, we must build an AI future that advances innovation, strengthens inclusion and integrates human values. When technology and human trust move forward hand in hand, the true impact of AI will be seen across the world.

Future of AI: Fear or fortune

Today, the world is divided into two kinds of people: those who see fear in AI and speak only of that fear, and those who see fortune in AI. I say this with responsibility and with pride: India does not see fear in AI. India sees fortune in AI. India sees the future in AI. We have the talent, we have the energy and capacity, and we have policy clarity. I am delighted to share that during the summit, three Indian companies launched their own AI models and apps. These models showcase the talent of India’ youth and reflect the depth and diversity of the solutions India is offering.

India is building a resilient ecosystem – from semiconductors and chip-making to quantum computing. Secure data centres, a strong IT backbone and a dynamic startup ecosystem make India a natural hub for affordable, scalable and secure AI solutions. India has diversity, demography and democracy. Any AI model that succeeds in India can be deployed globally.