Global AI governance is largely being shaped through non-binding but influential norm-setting processes led by the United Nations. Alongside this universal, negotiated track is a parallel, leader-driven summit process that has shifted the conversation from safety and ethics toward implementation and outcomes. As India hosts the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, can it help bridge UN consensus with practical delivery, especially for the Global South?
India is due to host the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026. It will be the fourth summit in a global dialogue series on artificial intelligence. The guiding principles of the summit are People, Planet, and Progress. Its themes focus on inclusive growth, sustainability, and real-world impact.
Participation will span the full spectrum: heads of state and government, ministers, CEOs, researchers, innovators, and civil society.
Earlier summits were hosted by the United Kingdom, South Korea, and France. Until now, these meetings were largely hosted in advanced economies. This is the first time the series is being hosted by a country of the Global South, signalling India’s rising global AI profile and its willingness to assume a leadership role.