Top AI Leaders and World Leaders Gather in Delhi for India AI Summit 2026

Top executives from global AI companies and world leaders have gathered in New Delhi this week for the India AI Impact Summit, aiming to boost investment and showcase India’s growing role in artificial intelligence. India has become an emerging hub for AI, with companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon committing a combined $68 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure by 2030.

The summit, which began on Monday, is the first time this global AI event is being held in a developing country. Indian officials are using the platform to highlight the perspectives of developing nations in global AI governance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the summit’s theme as “welfare for all, happiness for all,” reflecting the goal of using AI for human-centered progress.

Key speakers include Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. French President Emmanuel Macron will also share the stage with Modi during the summit. Large banners with Modi’s portrait have been placed across Delhi to promote the event, creating a high-profile public display.

India’s strategy focuses on large-scale AI deployment rather than building frontier models, as highlighted in the recent Economic Survey. With more than 72 million daily ChatGPT users, India has become OpenAI’s largest market. However, rapid AI adoption raises concerns about job losses in the $283 billion IT sector, with predictions that call centers could face a 50% revenue decline by 2030.

The summit is expected to attract over 250,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors across a 70,000-square-meter expo at Bharat Mandapam, a $300 million convention complex. The massive international attendance has caused luxury hotel prices in Delhi to surge, with Taj Palace suites jumping from $2,200 to over $33,000 per night. The Supreme Court of India issued a notice allowing advocates to appear via video conferencing during the summit due to expected traffic congestion around the court.