India's AI Leadership: A Global Blueprint for Inclusive Growth

India's AI Leadership: A Global Blueprint for Inclusive Growth

As the world grapples with the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI), India is poised to take a leading role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future. The AI Impact Summit, scheduled for February 2026 in New Delhi, is not just another high-profile event; it is a critical opportunity for India to demonstrate how governments can steer AI for the public good.

A Democratic Approach to AI

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has already taken significant steps to prepare for the summit. In June, a nationwide consultation was launched through the MyGov platform, inviting ideas from students, researchers, startups, and civil society groups. This inclusive approach is a hallmark of India's digital strategy, exemplified by initiatives like Aadhaar, which provides secure identity to over a billion people, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which facilitates seamless financial transactions.

Measurable Goals and Accountability

One of the summit's key initiatives is to establish clear, measurable goals for each participating delegation. These goals, which could range from reducing data center energy consumption to offering free AI courses for rural communities, will be publicly listed and tracked through a scoreboard. This transparent approach ensures that commitments are not just rhetorical but are backed by tangible actions.

Bridging the Global Digital Divide

The global South, often underrepresented in AI discussions, must be a central focus of the summit. India, as a leader of the Global South, is uniquely positioned to ensure that these voices are heard. The summit will push for an AI for Billions Fund, supported by development banks and Gulf investors, to provide cloud credits, fellowships, and local language datasets. This fund will help democratize access to AI, ensuring that talent is recognized and nurtured worldwide, not just in Silicon Valley or Beijing.

Ensuring AI Safety

With the rapid advancements in AI, ensuring safety and ethical standards is paramount. The summit will aim to create a Global AI Safety Collaborative, where experts can share red team scripts, incident logs, and stress tests. India's own AI safety institute can contribute by releasing an open evaluation kit with code and datasets for bias robustness. This collaborative effort will help build a safer and more reliable AI ecosystem.

A Balanced Regulatory Approach

The regulatory landscape for AI is complex, with the United States favoring a lighter touch, Europe rolling out its AI Act, and China relying on state control. India can offer a balanced approach by drafting a voluntary frontier AI code of conduct. This code, based on the Seoul pledge but with added specific measures, will require companies to publish external red team results, disclose compute usage, and establish an accident hotline. Such a middle ground can foster innovation while ensuring public trust.

Avoiding Fragmentation

The AI Impact Summit must avoid the fragmentation that has marked previous global gatherings. The agenda will be broad, inclusive, and focused on global good. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, India can help blunt the tensions between major AI powers and create a unified vision for the future.

The Bottom Line

India's AI Impact Summit is more than just a high-profile event; it is a critical step towards a more inclusive and equitable AI future. By leveraging its unique digital experience and fostering global collaboration, India can reframe the AI debate and set a new standard for how governments can lead the way in responsible AI development.