PM Narendra Modi Engages Global AI Leaders at India AI Impact Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of high-level engagements during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, underlining India’s ambition to emerge as a global leader in artificial intelligence and deep-technology innovation. The summit served as a platform to bring together policymakers, global executives, researchers, and entrepreneurs to discuss the future of AI and its transformative potential across economies. Modiji’s participation reflected the government’s focus on positioning India at the forefront of technological advancement while ensuring that innovation remains inclusive, responsible, and aligned with societal needs.

During the event, the Prime Minister met with CEOs and founders of 16 leading AI and deep-tech companies. Discussions focused on practical applications of artificial intelligence across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, language technology, cybersecurity, and climate monitoring. Startup leaders shared insights on how AI tools could improve early disease detection, enhance crop productivity, strengthen disaster management systems, and expand access to education through regional language platforms. The conversations also addressed challenges such as misinformation, data security, and the ethical deployment of AI systems, with Modiji emphasising the importance of building trusted and transparent technological ecosystems.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held a roundtable with 16 CEOs of artificial intelligence (AI) and deeptech startups. | News18

Strengthening India’s Innovation Ecosystem

The interaction with industry leaders highlighted India’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem and its strong digital public infrastructure. The Prime Minister encouraged entrepreneurs to develop scalable solutions that address real-world challenges while contributing to economic growth and job creation. He also pointed to India’s success in digital platforms as a model for innovation that can be replicated in emerging technologies, stressing the importance of domestic research capabilities and private sector participation.

Participants acknowledged India’s favourable policy environment, expanding talent pool, and growing investor confidence, noting that the country is increasingly becoming a preferred destination for AI innovation and investment. Discussions also explored the need for workforce skilling, semiconductor development, and research collaboration to support long-term technological competitiveness.

Back-to-Back Bilateral Meetings with Global Leaders

Alongside the CEO roundtable, Modiji conducted seven consecutive bilateral meetings with world leaders and representatives of international organisations attending the summit. These engagements focused on strengthening partnerships in digital public infrastructure, emerging technologies, trade, and investment. Leaders from multiple countries discussed opportunities for collaboration in innovation, capacity building, and technology transfer, reflecting India’s expanding diplomatic engagement in the technology domain.

The bilateral discussions also emphasised the importance of global cooperation in establishing responsible AI governance frameworks. With artificial intelligence increasingly influencing economies and national security, there was a shared recognition that international collaboration would be essential to ensure equitable access to technology and prevent misuse.

India’s Vision for Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence

A central theme of the summit was India’s vision of human-centric artificial intelligence that prioritises social welfare, economic inclusion, and sustainable development. The government highlighted how AI can play a transformative role in addressing challenges faced by developing nations, including healthcare access, agricultural productivity, education inequality, and climate resilience. India positioned itself as a voice for the Global South in shaping international AI governance, advocating frameworks that balance innovation with ethical responsibility.

The summit also brought together hundreds of global stakeholders, including technology companies, academic institutions, and international organisations, creating opportunities for collaboration across borders. By hosting such a large-scale event, India reinforced its intention to play a leading role in defining the future trajectory of artificial intelligence worldwide.

The MGMM Outlook

The engagements of Narendra Modi with global AI leaders during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi highlight a decisive effort to position India as a major force in artificial intelligence and deep-technology innovation. Bringing together top executives, researchers, and policymakers created an ecosystem where practical AI applications—from healthcare diagnostics and agricultural productivity to education access and cybersecurity—were discussed with a focus on scalable solutions for real-world challenges. The emphasis on trusted, transparent, and ethical AI deployment reflects a broader ambition to combine technological advancement with societal responsibility, ensuring that innovation directly benefits citizens and economic growth.

The summit also demonstrated the country’s expanding diplomatic and strategic influence in emerging technologies through multiple bilateral meetings and partnerships. By promoting digital public infrastructure, workforce skilling, semiconductor capabilities, and research collaboration, the leadership reinforced confidence in the nation’s startup ecosystem and investment potential. The articulation of a human-centric AI model that supports developing nations and the Global South positions the country not only as a technology adopter but also as a rule-shaper in global AI governance, strengthening its role in shaping the future of responsible technological progress.

(Sources: News18, Hindustan Times, NDTV)