How is the UN Chief Recognizing India's Role in AI?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On February 18, 2026, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was warmly received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi.
During the summit, Guterres participated in a banquet hosted by PM Modi, as confirmed by his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
In his address planned for Thursday, he is expected to highlight India's pivotal role in steering conversations towards a more inclusive AI landscape, according to Dujarric.
Guterres will emphasize the necessity for AI to be accessible to everyone, benefiting all and ensuring safety for all.
He will express that India's involvement brings this dialogue closer to the realities shaping a significant portion of the globe, insisting that the future of AI should not be determined by a select few nations or left to the discretion of a handful of billionaires, as stated by Dujarric.
The perspectives of Guterres and PM Modi align on the global future of AI, both advocating for an inclusive approach.
The summit aims to ensure that AI fosters welfare for all and joy for everyone, reflecting a collective commitment to utilizing Artificial Intelligence for human-centric advancements, as articulated by PM Modi on X.
Over 35,000 attendees from more than 100 nations are participating in the summit, which includes 20 prime ministers or presidents and at least 45 foreign ministers.
Notable attendees include Presidents Emmanuel Macron from France, Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon from Spain, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from Brazil, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Dujarric mentioned that Guterres will engage in bilateral discussions with leaders and ministers attending the event.
Prominent figures from the tech world, such as Sundar Pichai (CEO of Alphabet), Demis Hassabis (CEO of Google DeepMind), Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI), Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), and Mukesh Ambani (Chairman of Reliance), are also present.
Last month, Guterres publicly acknowledged India for taking the lead in summits aimed at determining the future trajectory of AI.