New Delhi to Host Landmark AI Impact Summit in February 2026
New Delhi is gearing up to host the highly anticipated AI Impact Summit from February 16 to 20, 2026. This event is poised to serve as a pivotal moment for investment, technological partnerships, and alignment of global policies surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). The Indian government is eyeing a robust outcome, hoping the conference will facilitate investment proposals nearing a staggering $100 billion (approximately ₹8.3 lakh crore).
Organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, this summit aims to gather a vibrant mix of global technology leaders, industrialists, researchers, and policy experts. Notable attendees will include personalities like Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft; Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google; Demis Hassabis, chief of Google DeepMind and Nobel laureate; Meta’s Chief AI Officer Alexander Wang; and Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic. On the home front, prominent figures from Indian industry, such as Mukesh Ambani, N. Chandrasekaran, and Sunil Mittal, are also expected to make their presence felt.
The Largest AI Platform in the Developing World
The summit is being touted as the largest AI-focused gathering hosted by a developing country, with representatives from over 100 nations set to engage in discussions around global AI policy, data governance, ethics, safety frameworks, and regulatory architecture. The theme of the event, “AI for the greater good of all,” conveys a critical emphasis on ensuring that the benefits of AI extend beyond corporate gains to serve the wider public interest. This rallying cry is encapsulated in three foundational pillars: People, Planet, and Progress, all of which stress the need for inclusive and sustainable tech development.
AI for a Secure India: Addressing Cybersecurity Concerns
A significant aspect of the summit’s discourse will focus on cybersecurity, an ever-pressing concern in the realm of technological advancement. The Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) has been chosen as a Knowledge Partner for this initiative. They will conduct a dedicated session titled “AI for Secure India: Combating AI-Enabled Cybercrime, Deepfakes, Darkweb Threats, and Data Breaches.”
Scheduled for February 17, from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at Bharat Mandapam, the session will be moderated by Professor Triveni Singh, former IPS officer and chief mentor at FCRF. The panel will consist of distinguished experts in legal, industry, and cybersecurity spheres, including Rakesh Maheshwari, Cyber Law and Data Governance Expert; Senior Advocate Vivek Sood from the Supreme Court of India; Tarun Wig, CEO of Innefu Labs; Dr. Sapna Bansal from Shri Ram College of Commerce; and Navneethan M., Senior VP and Chief Information Security Officer.
The panel’s discussions will center around the acknowledgment that while AI can serve as a powerful tool for economic acceleration, it also amplifies cyber risks. The expanding landscape of threats—ranging from AI-generated deepfakes to the exploitation of machine learning in dark web marketplaces—presents challenges that cannot be overlooked. By embedding security considerations into the design of AI systems, the discussions will reinforce the critical message that proactive approaches to governance are essential.
Spotlight on Real-World Applications: Bridging Theory and Practice
The summit will also feature dedicated sessions that showcase practical applications of AI across various sectors. Key areas of focus will include:
- Healthcare: Leveraging AI for early disease detection, diagnostics, and telemedicine solutions.
- Agriculture: Implementing crop forecasting, advanced water management, and optimized supply chains to make farming smarter.
- Governance: Automating public services to enhance transparency and boost efficiency in delivery mechanisms.
- Skilling: Providing AI training to create new job opportunities for the youth.
The overarching narrative emphasizes India’s ambition to develop an inclusive technology model that could serve as a reference point for other nations in the Global South.
Investment, Data Centers, and Semiconductor Ventures in Focus
During the summit, it is anticipated that multiple bilateral and multilateral agreements will be announced. Joint research initiatives and investment opportunities in AI startups will take center stage, particularly emphasizing areas such as data centers, chip design, cloud infrastructure, and public digital infrastructures. Furthermore, there will be efforts to attract international investments tied to domestic manufacturing in the semiconductor value chain.
The Rapidly Expanding AI Market
India’s AI market is on a trajectory of rapid growth, with projections estimating it could reach $17 billion by 2027, tripling from 2024 levels. Long-term forecasts suggest a growth up to $131 billion by 2032. The conducive environment for automation, data analytics, and AI-driven services could significantly shape the economy in the forthcoming decade.
Key Strategic Gains for India
Analysts outline three significant gains from attending the summit:
- Investment Inflows: Establishing research and manufacturing facilities that can drive innovation.
- Skilling Economy: Creating opportunities for the youth trained in AI technologies.
- Global Leadership: Positioning India as a key player in AI ethics and inclusive policy-making.
The government envisions positioning India not just as a consumer of AI technologies but as a significant developer and exporter of sophisticated AI solutions.
As the momentum builds toward the AI Impact Summit, the potential outcomes could markedly accelerate India’s digital economy and further its ambition to become a global leader in AI innovations.
