What Happened at the AI Impact Summit as PM Modi Meets Global Leaders?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 18 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with numerous global leaders, conducting an impressive nine bilateral meetings before concluding a busy Wednesday by hosting an official banquet for the distinguished guests attending the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
PM Modi interacted with leaders from Spain, Finland, Serbia, Croatia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, and Bhutan. He also had discussions with Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, and Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems.
The informal engagements with world leaders extended late into the evening, culminating in a warm welcome at the official banquet held at the Bharat Mandapam.
Earlier that day, PM Modi's bilateral discussions included notable figures such as Pedro Sanchez (President of Spain), Petteri Orpo (Prime Minister of Finland), Aleksandar Vucic (President of Serbia), Andrej Plenkovic (Prime Minister of Croatia), Alar Karis (President of Estonia), Olzhas Bektenov (Prime Minister of Kazakhstan), and Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, on the sidelines of the summit.
On Thursday, PM Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam. The event will also feature addresses from the President of France, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and various prominent industry leaders from around the globe.
This will be succeeded by a visit to the India AI Impact Expo 2026, where leaders will explore various country pavilions.
Following this, PM Modi will take part in the Leaders' Plenary, gathering Heads of State, ministers, and senior representatives from multilateral organizations to discuss national and global priorities regarding AI, encompassing governance, infrastructure, and international collaboration.
Subsequently, he will engage in the CEO roundtable, bringing together senior executives from global tech and industry firms alongside government leaders to deliberate on investment, research partnerships, supply chain issues, and the implementation of AI technologies.
The theme of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is 'welfare for all, happiness of all', aiming to establish India as a frontrunner in AI while envisioning a future where AI enhances humanity, promotes inclusive growth, and protects our shared planet.
Seven Working Groups anchor the summit, organized around three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. These groups will focus on achieving tangible outcomes that illustrate AI's influence across various sectors. The seven thematic areas include: AI for Economic Growth and Social Good, Democratizing AI Resources, Inclusion for Social Empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI, Human Capital, Science, and Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency.
The summit has convened over 500 Global AI Leaders, including CEOs/CXOs, around 100 CEOs and Founders, 150 Academicians and Researchers, and 400 CTOs, VPs, and Philanthropists. Additionally, it will involve more than 100 government representatives, including over 20 Heads of State and Government officials, along with about 60 Ministers and Vice Ministers.