India Tech

India has kicked off the five-day AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, bringing together world leaders, policymakers and top technology executives to deliberate on pressing issues such as job displacement, child safety, regulation and the future of artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit, describing it as a milestone in India’s rapid progress in science and technology. In a post on X, he said the event highlights both the nation’s technological advancement and the potential of its youth. The summit aims to chart a “shared roadmap for global AI governance and collaboration.” Organisers have billed this as the largest edition of the summit so far, with an expected 250,000 participants, including 20 heads of state and 45 ministerial delegations. Among the prominent leaders expected to attend are French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The event has also drawn major figures from the global technology industry, including Sundar Pichai of Google, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm, Brad Smith of Microsoft, and Yann LeCun, Executive Chairman of AMI Labs. However, the opening day was marred by criticism as attendees reported overcrowding, long queues and organisational confusion. According to delegates quoted by Reuters, unclear instructions and sudden security clearances ahead of high-level arrivals left many scrambling to retrieve belongings. Poor signage and limited seating further compounded the disarray, while some speakers reportedly awaited confirmation of their sessions. Despite early logistical challenges, the summit arrives at a pivotal moment for AI governance. As generative AI tools and advanced systems reshape industries from healthcare to defence and climate modelling, governments worldwide are grappling with how to balance innovation with safety and regulation. Previously hosted in France, the United Kingdom and South Korea, the summit has expanded from a narrowly focused safety forum into a broad-based platform addressing economic growth, ethics, sustainability and international cooperation. India, the world’s most populous country and one of the fastest-growing digital markets, sees the summit as an opportunity to position itself as a bridge between advanced economies and the Global South. Officials point to India’s experience in building large-scale digital public infrastructure—such as digital identity and payment systems—as a model for scaling AI solutions affordably and inclusively. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said the vision is to ensure AI serves “inclusive growth and a sustainable future.” The summit revolves around three broad themes — “people, progress, planet” — and is expected to conclude with a nonbinding declaration outlining shared goals for AI development rather than a formal political agreement. Source: Aljazeera