Every so often, New Delhi lets an occasion ripple beyond its walls and at the moment, that ripple is the India AI Impact Summit 2026, unfolding at Bharat Mandapam. Global eyes have turned here, drawn by India’s rising stake in artificial intelligence, hinting at an intent not only to use AI, yet help steer its ethical course.
Here we are in Delhi, what else is unfolding tho? Hmm, the impact of AI may put us on the global chart, but right now, it’s spilling in the streets of Delhi, and in the most chaotic, uncomfortable and stuck-in-the-traffic kinda way ever.
What’s The AI Summit?
Not far off, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 unfolds across several days in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam. Artificial intelligence takes center stage, alongside talks on rules that guide it, fresh ideas, and building tech the right way. Officials from governments sit near teams from worldwide organizations, as company heads share space with founders of young Indian firms.
Conversations here spark around how smart systems might shift areas like:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Agriculture
- Governance
- Industry and infrastructure
Held in the Global South, this gathering marks a rare and aura-filled moment where over 100 nations meet on artificial intelligence. India steps into view through these talks, showing how local choices might ripple outward. But it’s not just talky- talk, action takes form here, as it is shaped by many top voices.
Main Characters At The Summit
A string of well-known figures showed up, from politicians, top company bosses, to big-name decision makers. These were names you’d recognize filled the rooms where deals and talks unfolded.
Key speakers include:
- At the summit’s opening, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking charge
- Fresh off lauding India’s shift into digital systems, French leader Emmanuel Macron made his stance clear
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres, representing global governance concerns
- Top Google exec Sundar Pichai stands out among leading figures in tech who trace roots to India
- Sam Altman shows up, a big name in world AI lately, leading OpenAI through thick of tech shifts
- Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, who announced major AI investment plans
- Top boss at Accenture, Julie Sweet, pointed out how fairer AI can help expansion
Nowhere else has the buzz around artificial intelligence grown so fast as in India, thanks to a chorus of leader-coded voices pushing forward.
What’s happened so far?
PM Modi Starts Summit Urging Global AI Leadership
Starting off, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it crystal clear that where others see worry in artificial intelligence, India sees a blessing in disguise. He said the country’s aim is not just to accept the AI shift but to shape it too. Intelligence in machines isn’t the full picture, how people can grow from it, should also be part of the conversation.
PM Modi Introduces India’s MANAV Vision for Ethical Artificial Intelligence
Ahead of the crowd, Modi rolled out India’s MANAV plan for artificial intelligence, unveiling how smart systems can grow without causing any harm. This moment was a quaint and eye-opening shift among the grand moments from the summit.
MANAV stands for:
- Moral and ethical systems
- Accountable governance
- National sovereignty
- Accessible and inclusive AI
- Valid and legitimate systems
Looking ahead, India shapes its path so artificial intelligence stays fair, focused on people, and guided by responsibility. Smart systems are meant to serve everyone equally, and that is the kind of era or reign India imagines to step into, though it is not blindsided by the fact that practical choices shape the impact here.
PM Modi Seeks Global Plan for Responsible AI
During the Leaders’ Plenary Session, Modi called on global leaders to unite around building a clear path for ethical AI. With urgency in his voice, he said society should turn the upheaval caused by artificial intelligence into forward movement. The world must see it not just as a risk but also as a chance to grow.
Macron Notes India Digital Growth
Away from the usual praise, France’s leader saw something different in India’s tech backbone; he saw more than a system, but proof that access can scale when built right. What stood out was how IDs went digital, opening doors once locked and payments moved fast, without old barriers holding things back.
Health records followed a similar forward-looking path, shifting online where people could reach them. All of it felt stitched together, not by chance, but by careful design. Few nations have pulled off such depth in digital reach.
Mukesh Ambani Commits 10 Lakh Crore to Artificial Intelligence
Fifty thousand crores might flow from Reliance, said Mukesh Ambani at the summit, with ten times that amount on the table if needs grow. Spreading smart tech across India could shape much of what happens next under his watch.
What’s up outside the venue?
Outside Bharat Mandapam, Delhi’s streets told a different story and spoiler alert! It was not pretty. Roads near the NH24 ground to a halt, held up by security movements for high-level guests. Instead of smooth commutes, city travelers faced snarled routes and long waits and a similar story of public upheaval echoed in the streets of Delhi.
Far from polished statements, the event pulled sharp reactions online from entrepreneurs, reporters, and visitors sharing painfully raw glimpses of what unfolded in real time at the Summit.
Arti Singh journalist wrote “No UPI, only cash at food counter at India AI Impact Summit 2026. Truly DigitalIndia 🤦♀️ My friend totally frustrated after standing in a long queue messaged me this :)”
Pushpendra Singh shares satirical comment saying,
““Official Prohibited Items List at India’s AI Impact Summit 🤡👇
Bags – please arrive empty-handed. Thoughts optional.
Car keys – park somewhere… and throw your key 🔑
Laptops – absolutely unnecessary at a tech event.
Earbuds – listening is clearly optional.
Water – what is this, survival mode?
Sharp objects – including sharp, uncomfortable questions during panels.
Welcome to the AI summit where innovation was restricted, execution was missing, and enthusiasm had to pass security clearance.
At this point, the only thing allowed was optics.
If this is how we host AI events, maybe the real artificial intelligence was expecting logic.”
Yavanika Shah puts forward views on Day 1 with dry wit,
“Day 1 at the AI Summit:
We’re apparently building the future.
Meanwhile:
– No water.
– Traffic like it’s a festival + protest + wedding baraat combined.
– AQI doing live demo of ‘real world simulation.’
– Queues so long they need their own breakout session.
– Cash only food counters. In 2026. At an AI summit.
Can we maybe deploy some AI to manage… the summit?
Also genuinely, what did Jensen Huang know 👀 Cz that last minute skip is starting to look like foresight.”
A post came from Punit Jain, who leads a startup, describing what went wrong that day. His message laid out each issue clearly, step by step,
“An AI Summit that sidelines its own builders?
7 AM queues
9 AM entry
12 PM full evacuation
Hours of sanitization
PM visit at 5 PM
Day 1 Ends here
Meanwhile — exhibitors, delegates, startup founders left outside. No water. No clarity.
Media shows celebration. Ground reality was chaos.
If access was limited to select high-value guests, just say it upfront.
Don’t mobilize the ecosystem and then displace them.
This is not how we build India’s AI future.”
Held during a striking moment for India’s role in artificial intelligence, the 2026 AI Impact Summit gathered international figures, big business names, and local tech players under one roof. And yes, updates on funding strategies and responsible AI guidelines took center stage, public jibber-jabber quickly moved toward the real things that hold great importance in the TODAY that is in front of us; the today is full of jammed streets, difficulties handling large groups of people, and a chaos like no other in the country’s capital.