Look forward to continuing our conversation at Summit: Google DeepMind CEO after meeting with Ashwini Vaishnaw in Davos
Davos, January 23
Google DeepMind CEO and Co-founder Demis Hassabis confirmed his participation in the upcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi following a meeting with Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The summit, scheduled for February 2026, focuses on India's role in the global development and implementation of artificial intelligence technologies.
The announcement followed a series of diplomatic engagements at Davos, where the Union IT Minister Vaishnaw met with global technology leaders to discuss the sector's growth.
Google DeepMind CEO Hassabis shared details of the interaction on the social media platform X, noting the significance of the upcoming summit. The discussions centered on the strategic positioning of India within the international AI landscape and the technical potential of these systems to address global challenges.
"Great to meet you Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw. Really enjoyed our discussion on AI's incredible potential to benefit humanity & India's important role in realising this - looking forward to continuing our conversation at the Summit!" Hassabis stated on X. The Google DeepMind executive's commitment to the February event aligns with the government's efforts to centralize AI policy discussions in the capital.
Vaishnaw also met with OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane during the forum. The Minister highlighted the necessity of collaborative frameworks in shaping technology for public benefit. He emphasized that the February summit serves as a platform for these international entities to engage directly with India's digital infrastructure.
"Met Mr. Demis Hassabis, CEO & Co-founder, Google DeepMind and Mr. Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer, OpenAI, at WEF, Davos. Discussed India's growing role in shaping AI for global good. Encouraged active participation in the AI Impact Summit, to be held in New Delhi in February, 2026," the Minister said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see this collaboration. But I hope the summit discussions go beyond just high-level talks and actually focus on creating practical AI solutions for our local problems - like in agriculture, healthcare, and education. The real impact will be felt there.
February 2026 is still quite far away. While the intent is good, I hope the momentum from Davos isn't lost. We need continuous dialogue and policy action, not just a big event two years from now. The tech world moves much faster.
As someone working in the Indian AI startup space, this is very encouraging. Having global leaders like Demis Hassabis come to Delhi signals that the world is looking at India not just as a market, but as a source of innovation and partnership.
The focus on "AI for global good" is the right note to strike. India's experience with scalable digital public infrastructure (like UPI) is a perfect foundation to build responsible and inclusive AI solutions that can benefit billions.
A respectful criticism: I hope the summit is not just an elite gathering. It should actively include voices from Indian academia, smaller tech firms, and civil society to ensure the AI development is ethical and addresses real societal needs, not just corporate interests.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.