India’s $100 Billion AI Leap: New Delhi Hosts Global Titans

Next week, New Delhi will transform into the global epicenter of artificial intelligence as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The five-day event, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, is expected to draw a staggering $100 billion in investment commitments, signaling India's arrival as a "technology decade" leader.

PM Modi is set to meet with approximately 40 top global CEOs, including Sam Altman (OpenAI), Dario Amodei (Anthropic), and Sundar Pichai (Google). The guest list also features industry stalwarts like Bill Gates and leaders from Microsoft, Amazon, and Netflix. These discussions will pivot on infrastructure expansion, sovereign AI roadmaps, and the potential for mass employment.

In a first for the Global South, the summit welcomes 20 heads of state, including French President Emmanuel Macronand Brazilian President Lula da Silva. With ministerial delegations from 45 nations and UN Secretary-General António Guterres in attendance, the event bridges the gap between Western innovation and Global South developmental needs.

The summit is anchored by three foundational pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. This framework emphasizes a cooperative approach to AI, ensuring the technology serves real-world needs. Notably, registrations have surpassed two lakh, including a significant number of farmers and grassroots workers.

Key Investment & Participation Metrics

Amid global anxieties regarding automation, the summit features dedicated tracks on skilling and workforce transitions.By moving beyond high-level theory to measurable social outcomes, India aims to prove that AI can be a tool for equity rather than displacement.

The event concludes on February 20 with the GPAI Council meeting, solidifying India's role as a primary standard-setter for responsible AI.