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India Hosts First Global South AI Summit, Showcases Sovereign AI Development

India is hosting the inaugural Global South AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlights India's role as a broker between the Global North and South in AI development. AI expert Marine Collins Ragnet praised India's sovereign approach, citing initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission and indigenous datasets. The summit brings together global leaders to foster partnerships and translate AI innovations into actionable development outcomes.

Key Points: India Hosts First Global South AI Summit, PM Modi Inaugurates

  • First global AI summit in the Global South
  • Focus on sovereign AI development
  • PM Modi to deliver inaugural address
  • Aims to translate AI into development outcomes
2 min read

"India has taken to become kind of sovereign in its AI development," says AI Expert

India hosts the first Global South AI summit, with PM Modi inaugurating the event focused on sovereign AI development and international collaboration.

"India really sits at a very interesting position because it's kind of a broker between the global south and the global north. - Marine Collins Ragnet"

New Delhi, February 17

Marine Collins Ragnet, AI Lead and Senior Researcher at NYU's Peace Research and Education Program, said that it was incredible to see India be the first country in the south to host such a summit.

Ragnet said that India really sits at a very interesting position because it's kind of a broker between the global south and the global north.

"It's incredible. I was saying it on the panel. think it's incredible that this is the first panel that's hosted in the global south. But I also think it's incredible to see the approach that India has taken to become kind of sovereign in its AI development, whether that's through the India stack, through the indigenous data sets that they're going to be launching this week. I think India really sits at a very interesting position because it's kind of a broker between the global south and the global north, and it's definitely has a lot to do with setting the example in that regard," she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Thursday February 19, setting the stage for strengthened global collaboration and advancing India's vision for inclusive, trusted, and development-orientated Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The summit, the first global AI event hosted in the Global South, being held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, brings together policymakers, technology leaders, researchers, startups, and investors from around the world to showcase real-world AI applications and foster international partnerships in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

The summit aims to translate AI innovations into actionable development outcomes aligned with India's strategic initiatives, such as the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister inaugurated the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, underscoring India's commitment to responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence.

The Summit will witness unprecedented participation, with over 20 Heads of State, 60 Ministers, and 500 global AI leaders.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone working in tech, I'm cautiously optimistic. The 'India stack' model for digital infrastructure was brilliant. If we can replicate that success in AI with a focus on solving local problems, it could be a game-changer for development.
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Priya S
The expert is right about India being a broker. We have the tech talent and the understanding of both developed and developing world challenges. Hope this summit leads to real partnerships that benefit farmers, small businesses, and healthcare in villages.
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Rohit P
Sovereign AI development is crucial. We cannot rely on foreign models trained on foreign data that don't understand our languages, culture, or context. Indigenous datasets are the first step. Let's build for Bharat!
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Michael C
While the ambition is commendable, I hope the focus remains on "inclusive and trusted" AI as stated. There are valid concerns about bias, privacy, and job displacement that need robust public debate, not just summit declarations.
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Kavya N
So many global leaders attending! This puts India on the map as a serious tech diplomacy player. The real test will be converting these summits into tangible investments and startups that solve real-world problems. Fingers crossed! 🤞

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