The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has reached a fever pitch in New Delhi as Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates arrived at Bharat Mandapam to deliver a highly anticipated keynote address. This landmark event, the first global AI gathering hosted in the Global South, has transformed India’s capital into the epicenter of the world’s technological future from February 16 to 20, 2026.
Speaking before a packed audience of over 20 Heads of State, 60 international ministers, and 500 global AI leaders, Gates emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in solving critical challenges in healthcare and education. His presence underscores the summit’s core mission: shifting the AI conversation from theoretical safety to “measurable impact.”
A Star-Studded Lineup of Global Leaders
The summit is not just a meeting of minds but a rare assembly of the world’s most influential tech CEOs. Alongside Bill Gates, the event features a “Who’s Who” of the AI industry:
- Sundar Pichai (CEO, Alphabet/Google)
- Sam Altman (CEO, OpenAI)
- Jensen Huang (CEO, NVIDIA)
- Dario Amodei (CEO, Anthropic)
- Demis Hassabis (CEO, Google DeepMind)
Indian industry titans, including Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Bharti Mittal, and Nandan Nilekani, have also joined the fray, highlighting India’s ambition to become a global hub for AI innovation.
The Three Sutras: People, Planet, and Progress
The Government of India has anchored the 2026 summit on three foundational pillars known as the “Three Sutras”:
- People: Focusing on human-centric AI that ensures equitable benefits.
- Planet: Promoting environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient AI systems.
- Progress: Driving inclusive economic growth through technological capacity building.
With over 700 sessions planned across five days, the summit covers seven thematic “Chakras,” ranging from Safe and Trusted AI to AI for Economic Development. The event also showcases the India AI Impact Expo, featuring 300+ exhibitors and 600+ startups across a massive 70,000-square-meter space.
As the fourth major global AI summit—following Bletchley Park (2023), Seoul (2024), and Paris (2025)—the New Delhi edition marks a shift toward the needs of developing nations. By focusing on “Sovereign AI” and the “Global Impact Challenge,” India is positioning itself as the bridge between the Global North’s innovation and the Global South’s scale.
Key Highlights:
- Global Participation: The AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi is hosting over 20 Heads of State and top CEOs like Bill Gates, Sundar Pichai, and Sam Altman.
- Strategic Vision: The event is built on the “Three Sutras”—People, Planet, and Progress—to ensure AI serves social and environmental goals.
- India’s Leadership: As the first major AI summit in the Global South, it highlights India’s role in democratizing technology and fostering “Sovereign AI.”
- Massive Scale: The five-day event features 700+ sessions, 300+ exhibitors, and focuses on practical AI applications in health, agriculture, and education.