"India is democratising AI, technology": CPRG director Ramanand at AI Impact Summit
New Delhi, February 17
Center of Policy Research and Governance Director Dr Ramanand on Tuesday hailed the AI Impact Summit stating that the event sends a message that India is democratising both AI and technology.
Speaking to ANI, he stated that the AI Summit being organised is likely the largest event to date, as the world has its eyes on India and holds high hopes and expectations.
"The AI Summit is being held in India. The first summit was held in France, and after Europe, it is now taking place in India. India is being looked at with great hope and expectation. India is organising what is likely the largest AI summit so far. I do not think anyone has organised such a large summit on AI before. This event itself sends a message that India is democratising AI and technology. That is why it has invited people not only from India, but from all across the world," Dr Ramanand said.
The India AI Impact Summit is a five-day programme anchored in three foundational pillars, or "Sutras": People, Planet, and Progress.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, underscoring India's commitment to responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence.
The Summit, the first global AI gathering to be hosted in the Global South, will witness unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.
Bringing together policymakers, technology companies, innovators, academia, and industry leaders, the Summit seeks to translate global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address on February 19, setting the tone for enhanced global cooperation and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-oriented artificial intelligence.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone working in tech, I'm excited but also cautious. "Democratising AI" is a great slogan, but the real test will be in implementation. Will small startups and students in tier-2 cities actually get access to these tools and compute power?
Finally, a major global tech event in the Global South! For too long, these conversations happened in Silicon Valley or Europe. India's perspective on inclusive, development-oriented AI is crucial. Hoping this leads to real solutions for agriculture, healthcare, and education in our villages.
The scale is impressive - 20 Heads of State! This puts India firmly on the global AI map. My only request: please ensure the outcomes are in simple Hindi and regional languages too. Democratisation means nothing if a farmer in MP can't understand the policies.
Watching from the US, this is a significant shift. India's digital public infrastructure (like UPI) is already a case study. If they can apply that same scalable, inclusive thinking to AI governance, it could become a model for the world. The 'Sutra' framework is interesting.
Great initiative, but I hope it's not just talk. We need concrete steps: more AI research funding for Indian universities, open datasets for Indian languages, and strict ethical guidelines to prevent bias. The summit is a start, but the real work begins after the speeches end.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.