Why in news?

India will host the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20, marking the first time this global AI governance forum is being held in the Global South.

The summit aims to generate actionable, long-term policy recommendations rather than impose immediate binding regulations. It seeks to align AI governance with inclusive growth, sustainability, and social impact.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Background: Evolution of Global AI Summits
• India’s Distinct Approach
• India AI Impact Summit 2026: What to Expect
• Opening Up to China at the AI Impact Summit
• Hardware and Energy: India’s Key AI Constraints

Background: Evolution of Global AI Summits

• The summit builds on a series of international meetings on AI governance.
• The Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit (2023) focused on identifying catastrophic AI risks.
• The Seoul Summit (2024) widened the agenda to include innovation and inclusivity.
• The Paris AI Action Summit (2025) shifted attention to implementation and economic opportunities.
• Each iteration has gradually expanded the scope beyond safety towards practical and developmental concerns.

India’s Distinct Approach

• Unlike earlier summits centred on regulation and risk containment, India is steering the discussion towards “People, Planet, and Progress.”
• The focus is on developing AI solutions that address real-world challenges, especially in developing countries.
• This reflects India’s dual role as an emerging AI power and a representative voice of the Global South.
• Through this summit, India is positioning itself to secure a larger role in shaping global AI governance and capturing greater economic and developmental benefits from the technology.

India AI Impact Summit 2026: What to Expect

• Scale and Significance - The AI Impact Summit 2026 has been described by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as the largest such global gathering so far, with strong international interest and participation.
• High-Level Global Participation - The summit is expected to host representatives from over 100 countries, including 15–20 heads of government, more than 50 ministers, and over 40 CEOs of leading global and Indian companies.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event, host a dinner, and address a CEO roundtable.
• Diverse Stakeholders - Participants will include governments, industry leaders, researchers, civil society organisations, and international institutions, highlighting the summit’s multi-stakeholder approach to AI governance and development.
• Key Themes and Deliberations - The summit will feature working groups and discussions on major issues such as AI’s impact on jobs, trust and safety frameworks for AI systems, and the application of AI across key industries.
• India’s AI Push and Model Launches - As part of the Rs 10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission, the government will launch several indigenous AI language models during the summit, including foundational and small language models.
• Startup and Innovation Showcase - The event will showcase over 500 AI startups and host around 500 sessions alongside the main programme, making it one of the most comprehensive global forums focused on artificial intelligence.

Opening Up to China at the AI Impact Summit

• Chinese Participation at the Summit - China is expected to send a delegation to the AI Impact Summit, following a formal invitation extended by India last year as both countries seek to strengthen domestic AI capabilities.
• Summit Format and Invitations - The AI Summit is not a formal multilateral grouping. Participation is determined by the host country, giving India the discretion to invite China despite geopolitical sensitivities.
• Precedents from Earlier Summits - When the UK hosted the first AI Safety Summit, it faced opposition from allies and domestic lawmakers over inviting China, but proceeded nonetheless. China also participated in the subsequent summits in Seoul and Paris.
• Signal of Easing India–China Ties - India’s invitation to China reflects a gradual thaw in bilateral relations. Earlier this year, direct flights between the two countries resumed after a gap of more than five years.
• Trade and Supply Chain Developments - China has also begun clearing applications from firms supplying rare earth components to Indian automobile manufacturers, easing earlier restrictions imposed amid global trade tensions.

Hardware and Energy: India’s Key AI Constraints

• Dependence on Imported Computing Hardware - A major disadvantage for India in the AI race is the lack of domestically produced advanced hardware. Access to high-end GPUs, which power AI systems, depends largely on imports, limiting self-reliance.
• Hopes from India–US Tech Trade - The proposed interim India–US trade deal offers some relief. It is expected to significantly expand trade in technology products, including GPUs and data centre equipment, and deepen joint technology cooperation.
• Policy Push for Data Centres - India has announced a tax holiday until 2047 for foreign companies setting up data centres. This aims to attract global players and build domestic AI infrastructure, even as reliance on imported hardware continues.
• Budget Signals and AI Mission - In the Union Budget 2026–27, the allocation for subsidising compute under the IndiaAI Mission was halved. This came alongside strong growth in electronics manufacturing and iPhone exports, indicating shifting priorities.
• Energy Needs and Nuclear Power - Powering AI data centres is emerging as a critical challenge. The government is exploring nuclear energy as a long-term solution.