Today, February 16, 2026, India launches the AI Impact Summit 2026, the largest artificial intelligence summit ever organized in the Global South. The event, running through February 20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, brings together the most influential leaders in the global tech industry.
Who's attending the India AI Summit 2026
The attendee list is impressive. Among the confirmed CEOs are:
- Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI, makers of ChatGPT)
- Sundar Pichai (CEO of Alphabet/Google)
- Jensen Huang (CEO of NVIDIA)
- Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic, makers of Claude)
- Yann LeCun (Chief AI Scientist at Meta)
Additionally, ministerial delegations from over 45 countries, more than 3,000 speakers, and around 500 sessions are expected across the 5-day event.
Why this summit is historic
It's the first global AI summit organized in the Global South, marking a significant shift in the geopolitics of artificial intelligence. Until now, major decisions about AI regulation and development were primarily made in the United States and Europe.
India is positioning itself as a key player. Sam Altman stated that India has the potential to become a "full-stack AI leader", combining three unique advantages: deep technical talent, a coordinated national AI strategy, and public optimism about technology-driven growth.
What will be discussed at the summit
Key topics include:
- AI Governance: How to regulate artificial intelligence globally without slowing innovation
- AI for Public Services: Using AI in healthcare, education, and government
- Employment and AI: How to prepare the workforce for the automation era
- AI Startups: Over 600 high-potential startups will showcase their products
How this affects you
Decisions made at this summit will directly impact how we use AI tools in the coming years. If leaders agree on common regulatory frameworks, we could see:
- Greater access to AI tools in developing countries
- New regulations on the use of personal data in AI models
- International agreements on AI and employment
- More investment in AI startups outside Silicon Valley
What to expect this week
The summit runs through February 20. Major announcements from OpenAI, Google, and NVIDIA are expected during the main sessions. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event and is expected to present the country's national AI strategy.
We'll be covering the most relevant announcements throughout the week. Follow us to stay updated on the biggest news from the AI Impact Summit 2026.
