Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 33 - The Indian EYE 022026
P. 33

    BUSINESS & TRADE                                                   FEBRUARY 20, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 33

                                                     AI IMPACT SUMMIT 2026

                      Global Leaders Converge in New

              Delhi to Shape Responsible AI Future

               The first global AI summit of its scale in the Global South will bring world leaders, innovators
            and policymakers together to chart a people-centric and sustainable path for artificial intelligence

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            launched in March 2024 with an out-
                                                                                                                  lay of Rs 10,372 crore. In under two
            New Delhi
                                                                                                                  years, the mission has onboarded over
                n a landmark moment for glob-                                                                     38,000 GPUs to create affordable
               al technology governance, New                                                                      computing infrastructure for startups
            IDelhi is set to host the AI Impact                                                                   and academic institutions. Twelve
            Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20,                                                                   teams have been shortlisted to devel-
            marking the first gathering of its scale                                                              op  indigenous  foundational  models
            to be convened in the Global South.                                                                   and Large Language Models trained
            Organised by the  Ministry of Elec-                                                                   on  local  data,  strengthening  sover-
            tronics and Information Technology,                                                                   eign capabilities in critical sectors.
            the  five-day  summit  aims  to  move                                                                     Thirty  India-specific  AI  appli-
            beyond abstract debates and deliver                                                                   cations have already been approved,
            concrete outcomes on the responsi-                                                                    supported by 27 India Data and AI
            ble development and deployment of                                                                     labs.  Talent  development  remains
            artificial intelligence.                                                                              central, with thousands of undergrad-
                The presence of United Nations                                                                    uate, postgraduate and doctoral stu-
            Secretary-General  Antonio   Gu-                                                                      dents receiving support. National ini-
            terres, along with senior UN officials   Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Speaks at India AI Impact Summit 2026 Press Conference in   tiatives such as “Yuva AI for All” aim
            and multiple heads of government,                                                                     to democratise AI literacy, ensuring
            underscores the growing urgency                           New Delhi (ANI file photo)                  that technological transformation is
            around global AI cooperation. “We                                                                     inclusive rather than exclusive.
            need shared understandings to build   pendent   International   Scientific   responsible AI, Orpo highlighted the   Safety and governance are key
            effective guardrails, unlock innova-  Panel  on  Artificial  Intelligence,  re-  need for international cooperation   priorities. The India AI Governance
            tion for the common good, and foster   cently appointed by the UN General   amid intensifying geopolitical and   Guidelines lay down principles for
            cooperation,” Guterres said ahead   Assembly. Comprising 40 experts se-  economic competition. The presence   safe, trustworthy and human-centric
            of his visit, framing the summit as a   lected from more than 2,600 candi-  of multiple European leaders illus-  AI systems. The ‘Safe & Trusted AI’
            platform for both innovation and ac-  dates, the panel will produce annual   trates how AI diplomacy is becoming a   pillar addresses bias mitigation, pri-
            countability.                     evidence-based  assessments on AI’s   core feature of international relations.  vacy-preserving architectures, deep-
                More than  a diplomatic  event,  opportunities and risks. Among its   Structured around three founda-  fake detection and algorithmic au-
            the  summit  reflects  a  shift  in  the   members is Indian expert Balaraman   tional  pillars —  People,  Planet  and   diting. Complemented by the Digital
            geography of AI governance. For   Ravindran of IIT Madras, signalling   Progress — the summit is designed to   Personal Data Protection Act, 2023,
            decades, global technology conversa-  India’s growing intellectual contribu-  balance economic ambition with social   India is seeking to build a regulatory
            tions were dominated by institutions   tion to global AI discourse.  responsibility. Discussions will address   framework  that  encourages innova-
            in  North  America  and  Europe.  By   French  President  Emmanu-   employment and skilling, sustain-  tion while safeguarding rights.
            hosting the summit in New Delhi,  el Macron will attend the summit   able  and  energy-efficient  AI,  gover-  Seven thematic working groups
            India positions itself — and the wid-  during his fourth visit to India, rein-  nance frameworks, ethical safeguards,   — co-chaired by representatives from
            er Global South — at the centre of   forcing the technology pillar of the In-  and   sector-specific   applications.  the Global North and Global South —
            discussions on how AI should evolve   dia-France strategic partnership. The   The AI Impact Expo, spanning   are expected to present deliverables
            and who it should benefit.        two leaders are expected to deepen   over 70,000 square metres, will fea-  including proposals for AI Commons,
                The UN system will convene over   cooperation under the Horizon 2047   ture more than 300 exhibitors from   trusted AI tools and shared compute
            30 side events during the summit, fo-  Roadmap and jointly inaugurate the   30 countries across 10 thematic pavil-  infrastructure. The ambition is to
            cusing on sectors ranging from agri-  India-France  Year  of  Innovation   ions. Demonstrations will showcase   reduce the digital divide and enable
            culture and food security to health   2026. AI and emerging technologies   AI applications in healthcare diag-  developing countries to participate
            systems, gender equality, disaster risk   have become central to bilateral en-  nostics, precision agriculture, climate   meaningfully in AI advancement.
            reduction and child safety. Senior rep-  gagement, reflecting a shared vision   modelling, accessibility technologies   As global competition in artificial
            resentatives from UNDP, UNICEF,  of technological  sovereignty  and  re-  and digital public services. The aim   intelligence  intensifies,  the  AI  Im-
            UNESCO, FAO, UN Women and         sponsible innovation.             is to make AI tangible for citizens,   pact Summit 2026 reflects a broader
            other agencies will participate, high-  Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri   moving the narrative from abstract   realisation: AI governance cannot be
            lighting AI’s cross-sector impact.  Orpo will also participate, accompa-  algorithms to everyday impact.  fragmented. It  requires  multilater-
                A  significant  parallel  develop-  nied  by  a  delegation  of  22  Finnish   India’s hosting of the sum-  al  cooperation,  scientific  rigour  and
            ment is the formation of the Inde-  companies. Emphasising safe and   mit builds on the IndiaAI Mission,   ethical clarity.

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 |