New Delhi: The five-day AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced at Bharat Mandapam here on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming global leaders, technology executives, innovators and researchers to discussions centred on the transformative potential and challenges of Artificial Intelligence.
According to official information, the summit aims to outline a shared roadmap for global AI governance and cooperation. The accompanying expo features participation from global technology firms, startups, academic and research institutions, Union Ministries, state governments and international partners.
In a message shared on X, the Prime Minister said India stands at the forefront of the AI transformation, adding that the country’s advances reflect both “ambition and responsibility.” He described the summit as an opportunity to bring the world together to deliberate on innovation, collaboration and the responsible deployment of AI.
The event is being held from February 16 to 20 at the Bharat Mandapam complex.
A key highlight of the expo is the presence of 13 country pavilions representing Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and Africa. Organisers expect more than 2.5 lakh visitors, including international delegates, to attend the summit over its duration.
Media reports noted that leaders and delegates from around 100 countries are expected at the event. Among prominent technology figures anticipated to participate are Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman. Leaders from about 20 countries, including Brazil and France, are also reported to be attending.
The summit marks the fourth edition of the global AI Summit series, following previous meetings hosted in the United Kingdom, South Korea and France. Officials have indicated that this is the first time the summit is being hosted in a Global South nation, underscoring India’s growing engagement in global technology dialogues.
Security has been significantly reinforced for the event. Authorities, including the Delhi Police, have deployed AI-assisted monitoring systems. Over 10,000 security personnel have been stationed, with the venue divided into 10 zones and 22 sectors for coordinated management.
In addition to police forces, paramilitary personnel have been deployed. Senior officers are overseeing operations, supported by 25 anti-sabotage teams and bomb disposal squads. Five anti-drone systems and four air defence guns have been installed around the venue. Surveillance arrangements include at least 350 AI-enabled cameras and more than 750 CCTV units.
Ahead of the summit, UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy described the Delhi gathering as “an important moment” to strengthen international cooperation on AI. In a pre-summit statement, Lammy said the UK delegation would emphasise how AI can drive growth, create jobs and improve public services, while ensuring fair and robust safety standards.
With sessions set to address themes ranging from technological innovation to regulatory frameworks, the AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to host a broad spectrum of conversations on balancing opportunity, safety and global collaboration in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
