Ex-UK PM Rishi Sunak to Open India AI Impact Summit 2026
Global leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to converge in New Delhi for the first AI summit in the Global South
New Delhi, Feb 12 : Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will address “AI for All: Reimagining Global Cooperation”, a prelude to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Carnegie India announced. The event will bring together global experts for discussions on AI governance, international collaboration, and building an inclusive digital future.
In a statement shared on X, Carnegie India said, “We are pleased to announce that Rishi Sunak, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, will be speaking at ‘AI for All: Reimagining Global Cooperation,’ the curtain raiser to the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Join global leaders for an evening of high-impact discussions on AI governance, cooperation, and fostering an inclusive digital future.”
The Summit will also see the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit India from February 17 to 19 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Macron will take part in the AI Impact Summit and engage in bilateral discussions under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, aimed at deepening India-France cooperation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
As part of his visit, PM Modi and President Macron will jointly inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai, strengthening strategic collaboration in science, innovation, and technology.
The India AI Impact Summit, scheduled from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, is the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. The five-day programme will cover policy, research, industry, and public engagement, structured around three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. It will bring together policymakers, technology innovators, global leaders, and experts to explore AI’s role in sustainable development, governance, and innovation.
The accompanying India AI Impact Expo, spanning 70,000 square metres, will feature over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries across 10 thematic pavilions, highlighting AI’s journey from research and pilots to large-scale deployment. The Summit underscores India’s development-focused AI approach, in line with the India AI Mission and Digital India Initiative, emphasizing practical, people-centric outcomes from global AI discussions.
