New Delhi: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday praised India for taking a leadership role in global discussions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), calling AI one of the most critical challenges facing international relations today.
Speaking at a press conference on the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, Guterres said he was pleased to participate in the upcoming Global AI Impact Summit, which India will host later this month. He noted that the event marked the first time a country from the Global South was hosting a summit of this scale on artificial intelligence.
The India–AI Impact Summit 2026 is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 19 and 20.
Guterres further said AI had become a defining issue of the present era and stressed the need for countries to engage in dialogue alongside civil society and other stakeholders. He underlined the importance of inclusive discussions to address the global implications of AI, according to the UN.
The UN chief commended India for assuming responsibility for convening the summit and said his message would focus on the outcomes of the Global Digital Compact. Guterres explained that he would outline the role of the international scientific panel on AI and clarify expectations from future dialogues involving governments and institutions.
Guterres also said the summit would aim to strengthen global efforts to support capacity building in developing countries. He observed that although India already possessed significant capabilities in the field, enhancing capacity remained a central objective, particularly for developing nations seeking to harness AI responsibly.
The Global AI Impact Summit is expected to bring together world leaders, experts, and stakeholders to discuss governance, innovation, and equitable access to artificial intelligence technologies.
