A Delhi court on Tuesday (Feb 24) granted four-day custody of Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib to the Delhi Police in connection with the ‘shirtless’ protest during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. The police, seeking seven-day custody of the IYC president, accused him of being the mastermind behind the protest carried out by the four co-accused, who are also in custody. They emphasised that the case involves national security, sovereignty and the integrity of the country.&nbsp;These developments follow a row over the protests during the AI summit, after around 10 IYC workers entered Hall Number 5 of Bharat Mandapam on the fifth day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. They had pre-registered online and entered using QR codes. Once inside, they removed their shirts to reveal or hold up T-shirts with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump and raised controversial slogans.&nbsp;Delhi Police told the court that Chib was central to hatching the conspiracy and provided logistical support to the demonstrators, adding that several accused individuals linked to the case are currently located in Jammu, Amethi and Himachal Pradesh, and that custodial interrogation was necessary to establish coordination among those involved.&nbsp;Opposing the custody, Chib’s counsel argued that he was not absconding and was still in Delhi, cooperating with the police in the investigation, adding that he had already been interrogated twice.&nbsp;Also Said: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/god-s-own-country-to-officially-become-keralam-union-cabinet-approves-decision-to-rename-kerala-1771932449695">God’s Own Country to officially become 'Keralam': Union Cabinet approves decision to rename Kerala</a>&nbsp;The defence further said, “In a city (Delhi) where people are being murdered, the police have to recover the T-shirt. This is really a downfall,” and added that Chib is unaware of where the T-shirts were printed.&nbsp;“If they want to know the name, police can ask the same without taking him into custody,” the counsel added.&nbsp;Delhi Police rebutted the claims, saying this is a case of unlawful assembly and criminal conspiracy. “The accused is the person who directed other accused persons as they were in contact with him,” the police said.&nbsp;Reacting to the court order, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, "Those who are agitating for the people, those who are raising the voice of the common people, those who are raising the voice of the farmers. The government is not hearing them. The Prime Minister is not ready to hear them. The Prime Minister is not ready to hear the voice of the leader of the opposition in the parliament. The most unfortunate thing is happening in the national capital. We will fight it out completely, we will be fighting out for the common cause for this country."

Delhi Police told the court that Chib was central to hatching the conspiracy and provided logistical support to the demonstrators.

A Delhi court on Tuesday (Feb 24) granted four-day custody of Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib to the Delhi Police in connection with the ‘shirtless’ protest during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. The police, seeking seven-day custody of the IYC president, accused him of being the mastermind behind the protest carried out by the four co-accused, who are also in custody. They emphasised that the case involves national security, sovereignty and the integrity of the country. These developments follow a row over the protests during the AI summit, after around 10 IYC workers entered Hall Number 5 of Bharat Mandapam on the fifth day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. They had pre-registered online and entered using QR codes. Once inside, they removed their shirts to reveal or hold up T-shirts with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump and raised controversial slogans. Delhi Police told the court that Chib was central to hatching the conspiracy and provided logistical support to the demonstrators, adding that several accused individuals linked to the case are currently located in Jammu, Amethi and Himachal Pradesh, and that custodial interrogation was necessary to establish coordination among those involved. Opposing the custody, Chib’s counsel argued that he was not absconding and was still in Delhi, cooperating with the police in the investigation, adding that he had already been interrogated twice. Also Said: God’s Own Country to officially become 'Keralam': Union Cabinet approves decision to rename Kerala The defence further said, “In a city (Delhi) where people are being murdered, the police have to recover the T-shirt. This is really a downfall,” and added that Chib is unaware of where the T-shirts were printed. “If they want to know the name, police can ask the same without taking him into custody,” the counsel added. Delhi Police rebutted the claims, saying this is a case of unlawful assembly and criminal conspiracy. “The accused is the person who directed other accused persons as they were in contact with him,” the police said. Reacting to the court order, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, "Those who are agitating for the people, those who are raising the voice of the common people, those who are raising the voice of the farmers. The government is not hearing them. The Prime Minister is not ready to hear them. The Prime Minister is not ready to hear the voice of the leader of the opposition in the parliament. The most unfortunate thing is happening in the national capital. We will fight it out completely, we will be fighting out for the common cause for this country."

Delhi Police told the court that Chib was central to hatching the conspiracy and provided logistical support to the demonstrators.

Court sends IYC chief Uday Bhanu Chib to four-day custody in AI Summit protest; Congress says ‘will fight it out’

A Delhi court underlined that national interests and the country's international image cannot be compromised under the guise of protest. It asserted that acts capable of disrupting globally significant events require serious scrutiny and effective investigation.&nbsp;A Judicial Magistrate First Class at Patiala House court made these observations while allowing a five-day police custody of four accused arrested in connection with an incident that took place at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi.&nbsp;While granting police custody, the Court held that investigation at this stage required custodial interrogation to analyse electronic devices, examine communication links, trace possible funding sources, and identify other persons allegedly involved.&nbsp;The Court noted that international summits hosted by India involve the participation of foreign dignitaries and represent the nation at a global stage. Any disruption at such venues, it is observed, may have implications extending beyond a local law-and-order issue and could impact diplomatic engagements and national prestige.&nbsp;It underlined that while democratic dissent is protected, any conduct affecting security arrangements or India's standing before foreign delegates assumes greater gravity.&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-if-he-wants-sweeping-tariffs-he-should-go-to-us-congress-neal-katyal-slams-trump-s-new-15-levies-1771757540359"> 'If he wants sweeping tariffs, he should go to US Congress': Neal Katyal slams Trump’s new 15% levies</a>&nbsp;These remarks come after around 10 IYC workers entered Hall Number 5 of Bharat Mandapam on the fifth day of the India AI Impact summit 2026. They had pre-registered online and entered using QR codes. Once inside, they removed their shirts to reveal or hold up T-shirts with images of PM Modi and US President Trump and raised controversial slogans.&nbsp;It further observed that although citizens possess the constitutional right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest, such rights are subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of sovereignty, public order, and security of the State.&nbsp;Protest, the Court said, cannot be permitted in a manner that interferes with official duties or jeopardises security arrangements during sensitive international events.

The Court underlined that while democratic dissent is protected, any conduct affecting security arrangements or India's standing before foreign delegates assumes greater gravity.

A Delhi court underlined that national interests and the country's international image cannot be compromised under the guise of protest. It asserted that acts capable of disrupting globally significant events require serious scrutiny and effective investigation. A Judicial Magistrate First Class at Patiala House court made these observations while allowing a five-day police custody of four accused arrested in connection with an incident that took place at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi. While granting police custody, the Court held that investigation at this stage required custodial interrogation to analyse electronic devices, examine communication links, trace possible funding sources, and identify other persons allegedly involved. The Court noted that international summits hosted by India involve the participation of foreign dignitaries and represent the nation at a global stage. Any disruption at such venues, it is observed, may have implications extending beyond a local law-and-order issue and could impact diplomatic engagements and national prestige. It underlined that while democratic dissent is protected, any conduct affecting security arrangements or India's standing before foreign delegates assumes greater gravity. Also Read: 'If he wants sweeping tariffs, he should go to US Congress': Neal Katyal slams Trump’s new 15% levies These remarks come after around 10 IYC workers entered Hall Number 5 of Bharat Mandapam on the fifth day of the India AI Impact summit 2026. They had pre-registered online and entered using QR codes. Once inside, they removed their shirts to reveal or hold up T-shirts with images of PM Modi and US President Trump and raised controversial slogans. It further observed that although citizens possess the constitutional right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest, such rights are subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of sovereignty, public order, and security of the State. Protest, the Court said, cannot be permitted in a manner that interferes with official duties or jeopardises security arrangements during sensitive international events.

The Court underlined that while democratic dissent is protected, any conduct affecting security arrangements or India's standing before foreign delegates assumes greater gravity.

National interest cannot be compromised for protests: Delhi Court on AI Summit protest

The India AI Impact Summit concluded on Saturday on a high note as more than 85 nations and international organisations adopted the Delhi Declaration on AI impact, marking a significant milestone in global cooperation on artificial intelligence. The declaration reflects a broad-based global consensus on leveraging AI for economic growth and social good.&nbsp;&nbsp;IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to X to announce the adoption of the declaration. “88 countries and international organisatons have signed the AI Impact Summit Declaration. Entire world has endorsed PM Narendra Modi Ji’s human-centric vision of AI. The declaration is inspired by the principle of ‘Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya’ (Welfare for all, happiness for all), for democratising AI resources for the global population,” he tweeted.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-and-president-lula-sign-rare-earths-deal-set-aim-for-over-20-billion-bilateral-trade-1771674319506">Modi and Lula sign rare earths deal, set target of over $20 billion bilateral trade in 5 years</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">88 countries and international organisatons have signed the AI Impact Summit Declaration. Entire world has endorsed PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> Ji’s human-centric vision of AI. The declaration is inspired by the principle of ‘Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya’, for democratising AI… <a href="https://t.co/dnnNTIMysl">pic.twitter.com/dnnNTIMysl</a>&mdash; Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/AshwiniVaishnaw/status/2025172231949799789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;The declaration is structured around seven key pillars that form the foundation of global AI cooperation.The seven pillars are: Democratizing AI Resources, Economic Growth &amp; Social Good, Secure &amp; Trusted AI, AI for Science, Access for Social Empowerment, Human Capital Development, and Resilient, Efficient &amp; Innovative AI Systems.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-held-protest-like-nepal-gen-z-delhi-police-tells-court-on-youth-congress-shirtless-stir-at-ai-summit-1771670760953">‘Held Nepal Gen Z-like protest’: Delhi Police tells court on Youth Congress shirtless stir at AI Summit</a>&nbsp;The AI Impact Summit centred around the principles of development of human capital; broadening access for social empowerment; trustworthiness of AI systems; energy efficiency of AI systems; use of AI in science; democratising AI resources; and use of AI for economic growth and social good.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-don-t-be-a-panican-trust-trump-republicans-aides-rally-behind-president-1771613397421">‘Don’t be a Panican! Trust Trump’: Republicans, aides rally behind president</a>&nbsp;The declaration focuses on making AI resources accessible and affordable to enable all countries to develop, adopt and deploy them for the benefit of their citizens; large scale adoption of AI and AI-based applications to drive economic and social development, recognition of the significance of security in AI systems; utilisation of AI for international science collaborations such as research and development; facilitating AI adoption for social empowerment; preparing the workforce in the age of AI; and focusing on affordable AI systems.

The Delhi Declaration on AI impact reflects a broad-based global consensus on leveraging AI for economic growth and social good and marks a significant milestone in global cooperation on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit concluded on Saturday on a high note as more than 85 nations and international organisations adopted the Delhi Declaration on AI impact, marking a significant milestone in global cooperation on artificial intelligence. The declaration reflects a broad-based global consensus on leveraging AI for economic growth and social good. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to X to announce the adoption of the declaration. “88 countries and international organisatons have signed the AI Impact Summit Declaration. Entire world has endorsed PM Narendra Modi Ji’s human-centric vision of AI. The declaration is inspired by the principle of ‘Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya’ (Welfare for all, happiness for all), for democratising AI resources for the global population,” he tweeted. Also Read: Modi and Lula sign rare earths deal, set target of over $20 billion bilateral trade in 5 years

The Delhi Declaration on AI impact reflects a broad-based global consensus on leveraging AI for economic growth and social good and marks a significant milestone in global cooperation on artificial intelligence.

Over 85 nations sign Delhi Declaration on AI impact as India insists on ‘AI for All’

At the India AI Impact Summit, Sarvam AI highlighted India’s efforts to strengthen AI sovereignty by fostering homegrown artificial intelligence solutions and reducing reliance on foreign technologies. The discussion focused on building domestic AI infrastructure, promoting innovation, and ensuring ethical, secure, and self-reliant AI development to drive India’s technological and economic growth.


India AI Impact Summit: Sarvam AI on India's AI Sovereignty Push

German Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger has praised India's hosting of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, describing it as a landmark event for the Global South and highlighting deepening ties between India and Germany in digital technology and artificial intelligence.Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, Wildberger congratulated India on organising what he called "a fantastic event". He added: "Congratulations to India for hosting this event. First time for global south."The remarks come as Germany and India recently sealed an "AI Pact" on the summit's margins, aimed at fostering responsible, implementation-focused cooperation in AI across government, industry, research, and skills development. The agreement, signed with India's Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, builds on longstanding digital dialogues and seeks to promote secure, human-centric AI.Wildberger emphasised the strength of Indo-German relations, stating: "Our relationship has been strong, can build on a stronger partnership. We can move things together." He underscored shared priorities in AI, saying: "Open, accessibility, safety is a key feature. It needs to serve humanity."These principles align with efforts to ensure AI benefits global development while addressing risks. The minister also welcomed the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement, a major milestone finalised in January 2026 after years of negotiations. "I was so happy when we passed India, EU trade agreement. We have deep bonds. Let's use this as an opportunity to do more business together," Wildberger said.The deal is expected to boost trade significantly, eliminating tariffs on a vast share of goods and services, and creating growth opportunities for European, including German, companies in India's expanding market.Wildberger's visit and comments further signal Berlin's commitment to India, reinforced by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent trip to the country. "Clear signal from the chancellor on how important India is," Wildberger noted, pointing to high-level political backing for enhanced strategic and economic engagement.

The remarks come as Germany and India recently sealed an "AI Pact" on the summit's margins, aimed at fostering responsible, implementation-focused cooperation in AI across government, industry, research, and skills development.

German Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger has praised India's hosting of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, describing it as a landmark event for the Global South and highlighting deepening ties between India and Germany in digital technology and artificial intelligence. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, Wildberger congratulated India on organising what he called "a fantastic event". He added: "Congratulations to India for hosting this event. First time for global south." The remarks come as Germany and India recently sealed an "AI Pact" on the summit's margins, aimed at fostering responsible, implementation-focused cooperation in AI across government, industry, research, and skills development. The agreement, signed with India's Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, builds on longstanding digital dialogues and seeks to promote secure, human-centric AI. Wildberger emphasised the strength of Indo-German relations, stating: "Our relationship has been strong, can build on a stronger partnership. We can move things together." He underscored shared priorities in AI, saying: "Open, accessibility, safety is a key feature. It needs to serve humanity." These principles align with efforts to ensure AI benefits global development while addressing risks. The minister also welcomed the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement, a major milestone finalised in January 2026 after years of negotiations. "I was so happy when we passed India, EU trade agreement. We have deep bonds. Let's use this as an opportunity to do more business together," Wildberger said. The deal is expected to boost trade significantly, eliminating tariffs on a vast share of goods and services, and creating growth opportunities for European, including German, companies in India's expanding market. Wildberger's visit and comments further signal Berlin's commitment to India, reinforced by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent trip to the country. "Clear signal from the chancellor on how important India is," Wildberger noted, pointing to high-level political backing for enhanced strategic and economic engagement.

The remarks come as Germany and India recently sealed an "AI Pact" on the summit's margins, aimed at fostering responsible, implementation-focused cooperation in AI across government, industry, research, and skills development.

Germany hails India's AI summit as 'fantastic' milestone for Global South

A brief, awkward moment at a global AI Summit is now drawing attention to a much deeper divide in the Artificial-Intelligence world. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and anthropic CEO Dario Amodei pointedly avoided holding hands during a symbolic gesture of unity at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi. The optics may seem trivial, but the rivalry behind it is anything but.


 India AI Impact Summit: Altman, Amodei Skip Unity Gesture at Delhi Summit

At India AI summit in New Delhi, Nitendra Rajput, Senior Vice President and head of Mastercard AI Garage, speaks about the growth and adoption of AI in fintech, how advanced AI tools can create safer online experiences, helping to prevent fraud and streamline digital transactions for users, and the role of ai in making everyday online processes smoother.


Mastercard Leverages AI to Enhance Transactions

In a surprising turn of events, AI’s long-running rivalry between OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei hesitated to hold each other's hands at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi's Bharat Mandapam with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on stage. &nbsp;Instead of displaying solidarity in the end, the two lifted their fists while making the chain.&nbsp;The video uploaded by the news agency ANI on social media shows that when PM Modi raised fists, making a chain with other global tech leaders to show unity, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei hesitated to hold each other's hands while making the chain. Instead, both of them just raised their fists to show respect.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with global tech leaders including the CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, Alexandr Wang, Chief AI Officer of Meta, CEO of Anthropic, Dario Amodei pose for a group photograph at the India AI… <a href="https://t.co/GccXlG9rRx">pic.twitter.com/GccXlG9rRx</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2024349307835732347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Rift between OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei</h3>The rift between the tech leaders started after the founding of Anthropic, when Dario and Daniela Amodei, both former OpenAI vice presidents, with their then leader, Sam Altman, cited concerns that OpenAI was prioritising commercial interests over safety. That split set the stage for a deeper philosophical divide.&nbsp;Since then, Dario has built Anthropic around a safety-first ethos, placing his company on a trajectory starkly different from OpenAI’s. Altman’s firm, meanwhile, has closely tracked its former executive—now a major rival, and has frequently criticised Anthropic.&nbsp;Tensions resurfaced in early February, when the two exchanged fresh barbs after Anthropic ran a Super Bowl advertisement that appeared to poke fun at OpenAI’s decision to introduce ads in ChatGPT, a move Altman, who champions broad access over paywalls, openly pushed back against.&nbsp;"Anthropic serves an expensive product to rich people," Altman said in a post on the social media platform X. "We are glad they do that, and we are doing that too, but we also feel strongly that we need to bring AI to billions of people who can’t pay for subscriptions," he added. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/this-us-tech-ceo-misses-ai-summit-gala-hosted-by-pm-modi-after-four-hours-in-delhi-traffic-who-is-she-1771497626452">THIS US tech CEO missed AI Summit gala hosted by PM Modi after four hours in Delhi traffic. Who is she?</a>

The rift between the tech leaders started after the founding of Anthropic, when Dario and Daniela Amodei, both former OpenAI vice presidents, with their then leader, Sam Altman, cited concerns that OpenAI was prioritising commercial interests over safety.

In a surprising turn of events, AI’s long-running rivalry between OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei hesitated to hold each other's hands at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi's Bharat Mandapam with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on stage. Instead of displaying solidarity in the end, the two lifted their fists while making the chain. The video uploaded by the news agency ANI on social media shows that when PM Modi raised fists, making a chain with other global tech leaders to show unity, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei hesitated to hold each other's hands while making the chain. Instead, both of them just raised their fists to show respect.

The rift between the tech leaders started after the founding of Anthropic, when Dario and Daniela Amodei, both former OpenAI vice presidents, with their then leader, Sam Altman, cited concerns that OpenAI was prioritising commercial interests over safety.

Cold war on stage? OpenAI, Anthropic CEOs avoid holding hands in PM Modi's group photo at India AI Summit | WATCH

India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi brings together more than 500 global leaders, innovators, policymakers and tech experts to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. The summit focuses on AI governance, innovation, startups, and ethical AI, highlighting India’s growing role as a major hub for emerging technologies and global digital transformation.


India AI Impact Summit 2026: More Than 500 Leaders from Field of AI Attending Summit

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, indigenous language models trained on local data are taking center stage for their potential to solve grassroots challenges. Here are major homegrown models that natively process dozens of regional languages.

‘India’s homegrown AI era’: 4 indigenous language models set to reshape the AI landscape

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Feb 19) unveiled what he called India's comprehensive "MANAV Vision" for artificial intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, laying out a human-centric blueprint for how AI should be governed in the decades ahead. "Today at the New Delhi AI Impact Summit, I present the MANAV Vision for AI. MANAV means human," the Prime Minister told a gathering of global policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and civil society representatives.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-underscores-india-s-demographic-edge-at-ai-summit-2026-calls-event-proud-moment-for-south-asia-1771476015689">Humans must not be reduced to data points for AI, warns PM Narendra Modi at India AI Summit</a><h2>What is MANAV?</h2>Modi broke down the acronym to define India's approach to artificial intelligence. "M stands for moral and ethical systems. AI should be based on ethical guidance," he said. "A stands for accountable governance, meaning transparent rules and robust oversight.""N stands for national sovereignty. Whose data, his right," he added, underlining data ownership and digital self-determination. The second "A," he said, represents accessible and inclusive systems. Modi stressed that AI "should be a multiplier, not a monopoly."Finally, "V stands for valid and legitimate. AI should be lawful and verifiable," said the Indian PM.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-future-of-ai-cannot-be-decided-by-a-handful-of-countries-guterres-takes-a-swipe-at-us-china-india-ai-summit-1771474676864">'Future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries': Guterres takes a swipe at US, China | India AI Summit</a><h2>What will MANAV do?</h2>According to the Indian Prime Minister, MANAV is a guiding framework not just for India but for the global AI ecosystem. "This MANAV vision of India will become an important link for the welfare of humanity in the AI-based world of the 21st century," he predicted.Modi also flagged emerging risks. "We have to be more cautious regarding children's safety. The AI space should also be child safe and family guided," he said, calling for stronger safeguards as AI tools become more embedded in daily life. His statement comes as the US conducts a landmark social media trial where companies like Meta and YouTube face accusations of "engineering addiction" in children.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-addiction-by-design-meta-youtube-accused-of-engineering-addiction-children-during-us-trial-1770688114440">‘Addiction by design’? Meta, YouTube accused of 'engineering addiction' in children during US trial</a>Describing the current scenario as a turning point, Modi noted, "We are entering an era where humans and intelligent systems co-create, co-work and co-evolve". &nbsp;

At the India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Narendra Modi unveiled India’s “MANAV Vision” for artificial intelligence, calling it a human-centric roadmap for the AI age. “MANAV means human,” he said, framing the blueprint as a global guide for responsible AI governance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Feb 19) unveiled what he called India's comprehensive "MANAV Vision" for artificial intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, laying out a human-centric blueprint for how AI should be governed in the decades ahead. "Today at the New Delhi AI Impact Summit, I present the MANAV Vision for AI. MANAV means human," the Prime Minister told a gathering of global policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and civil society representatives. Also read | Humans must not be reduced to data points for AI, warns PM Narendra Modi at India AI Summit What is MANAV? Modi broke down the acronym to define India's approach to artificial intelligence. "M stands for moral and ethical systems. AI should be based on ethical guidance," he said. "A stands for accountable governance, meaning transparent rules and robust oversight." "N stands for national sovereignty. Whose data, his right," he added, underlining data ownership and digital self-determination. The second "A," he said, represents accessible and inclusive systems. Modi stressed that AI "should be a multiplier, not a monopoly." Finally, "V stands for valid and legitimate. AI should be lawful and verifiable," said the Indian PM. Also read | 'Future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries': Guterres takes a swipe at US, China | India AI Summit What will MANAV do? According to the Indian Prime Minister, MANAV is a guiding framework not just for India but for the global AI ecosystem. "This MANAV vision of India will become an important link for the welfare of humanity in the AI-based world of the 21st century," he predicted. Modi also flagged emerging risks. "We have to be more cautious regarding children's safety. The AI space should also be child safe and family guided," he said, calling for stronger safeguards as AI tools become more embedded in daily life. His statement comes as the US conducts a landmark social media trial where companies like Meta and YouTube face accusations of "engineering addiction" in children. Also read | ‘Addiction by design’? Meta, YouTube accused of 'engineering addiction' in children during US trial Describing the current scenario as a turning point, Modi noted, "We are entering an era where humans and intelligent systems co-create, co-work and co-evolve".

At the India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Narendra Modi unveiled India’s “MANAV Vision” for artificial intelligence, calling it a human-centric roadmap for the AI age. “MANAV means human,” he said, framing the blueprint as a global guide for responsible AI governance.

What is MANAV Vision? PM Narendra Modi unveils groundbreaking AI framework at India AI Impact Summit 2026 | Explained

At the #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 in Delhi, French President Emmanuel Macron praised India’s progress in digital inclusion, noting how technology has empowered everyday citizens, such as street vendors in Mumbai, to access digital payments and financial services. Macron emphasized this as a key example of technology driving social and economic empowerment in the Global South.

India AI Impact Summit 2026: Emmanuel Macron Applauds India’s Digital Inclusion at AI Summi

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron lauded India’s digital transformation as a civilisation‑level achievement. He highlighted how a Mumbai street vendor, who once struggled without documents, can now accept digital payments seamlessly. Macron emphasized that India’s digital identity system, empowering 1.4 billion people, is a feat unmatched by any other nation.

India AI Impact Summit 2026: Macron Highlights India’s Digital Transformation at AI Summit

Discover Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for artificial intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi. PM Modi emphasized responsible AI development, global collaboration, and inclusive technology for the Global South.

India AI Impact Summit 2026: PM Modi at India AI Summit: Vision and Responsibility for AI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi, where he met global AI visionaries shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Leaders including Sundar Pichai (Google & Alphabet), Sam Altman (OpenAI), Alexandr Wang (Cohere), the Chief AI Officer of Meta, and Dario Amodei (Anthropic) discussed AI innovation, responsible development, and global collaboration, highlighting India’s growing role in the AI ecosystem.

India AI Impact Summit 2026:  PM Modi Meets Global AI Leaders at India AI Impact Summit 2026

India AI Impact Summit 2026: Macron Highlights India’s Digital Transformation at AI Summit 

At the #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 in Delhi, French President Emmanuel Macron returned to India, reflecting on his 2024 state visit, and attended the Artificial Intelligence summit hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Macron highlighted India’s growing leadership in AI and the importance of global collaboration for technology that benefits all.

India AI Impact Summit 2026: Macron Returns to India for India AI Impact Summit 2026

At the #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 in Delhi, UN Secretary-General António Guterres lauded India’s leadership in hosting the first AI summit in the Global South. He emphasized that the future of artificial intelligence should be inclusive, warning that it cannot be decided by just a handful of countries or left to the whims of a few billionaires.

India AI Impact Summit 2026: UN Chief Guterres Praises India’s AI Leadership at Global South Summit 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday (Feb 19) said the event is a milestone not just for India, but for the wider South Asian region. "This summit being held in India is a matter of pride for the entire South Asia," Modi said, noting that India represents nearly one-sixth of the world's population. The Indian leader noted that AI is a tool for humans and not the other way around. He warned against reducing people to mere inputs in the AI ecosystem.&nbsp;<h2>Humans must not become raw material</h2>Warning against reducing humans to mere inputs in the AI ecosystem, Modi said, “Humans should not stay a raw material or data point for AI," underlining that technology must serve people, not the other way around.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-future-of-ai-cannot-be-decided-by-a-handful-of-countries-guterres-takes-a-swipe-at-us-china-india-ai-summit-1771474676864">AI Summit: UN chief takes swipe at US, China, says AI not playground of handful</a>He argued that artificial intelligence should be “democratised” rather than concentrated in the hands of a few powerful actors. He added that AI must function as a medium of inclusion, particularly for countries in the Global South.<h2>India represents one-sixth of humanity</h2>Modi underlined India’s demographic weight, noting that the country represents nearly one-sixth of the world’s population. That scale, he argued, gives India both responsibility and opportunity when it comes to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/galgotias-university-blames-professor-neha-singh-s-enthusiasm-of-being-on-camera-for-ai-robodog-row-1771467435745">Galgotias Uni blames professor's 'enthusiasm of being on camera' for AI dog row</a> This marks the fourth year of the AI Impact Summit, an international conference dedicated to the swift progress in AI. Previous editions took place in Paris, Seoul, and Bletchley, historically known as Britain's wartime code-breaking centre. The New Delhi summit is the first global AI meeting held in a developing country. The five-day summit was scheduled to be wrapped up on Friday (Feb 20), but has now been extended by a day following strong public response.&nbsp;

PM Modi underscores India’s demographic edge at AI Summit 2026, calls event 'proud moment for South Asia'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday (Feb 19) said the event is a milestone not just for India, but for the wider South Asian region. "This summit being held in India is a matter of pride for the entire South Asia," Modi said, noting that India represents nearly one-sixth of the world's population. The Indian leader noted that AI is a tool for humans and not the other way around. He warned against reducing people to mere inputs in the AI ecosystem. Humans must not become raw material Warning against reducing humans to mere inputs in the AI ecosystem, Modi said, “Humans should not stay a raw material or data point for AI," underlining that technology must serve people, not the other way around. Also read | AI Summit: UN chief takes swipe at US, China, says AI not playground of handful He argued that artificial intelligence should be “democratised” rather than concentrated in the hands of a few powerful actors. He added that AI must function as a medium of inclusion, particularly for countries in the Global South. India represents one-sixth of humanity Modi underlined India’s demographic weight, noting that the country represents nearly one-sixth of the world’s population. That scale, he argued, gives India both responsibility and opportunity when it comes to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Also read | Galgotias Uni blames professor's 'enthusiasm of being on camera' for AI dog row This marks the fourth year of the AI Impact Summit, an international conference dedicated to the swift progress in AI. Previous editions took place in Paris, Seoul, and Bletchley, historically known as Britain's wartime code-breaking centre. The New Delhi summit is the first global AI meeting held in a developing country. The five-day summit was scheduled to be wrapped up on Friday (Feb 20), but has now been extended by a day following strong public response.

PM Modi underscores India’s demographic edge at AI Summit 2026, calls event 'proud moment for South Asia'

Humans must not be reduced to data points for AI, warns PM Narendra Modi at India AI Summit

Bill Gates will not be attending the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the Gates Foundation India said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 19). This comes after the Microsoft co-founder was named in the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice. The organisation will instead be represented by Ankur Vora, President of the Africa and India Offices, who is set to speak at the Summit.“After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit's key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address. The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today at the Summit,” the Gates Foundation India said. “The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/tGJtEQS97E">pic.twitter.com/tGJtEQS97E</a>&mdash; Gates Foundation India (@BMGFIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/BMGFIndia/status/2024316125400748512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Earlier, Gates had been listed among global tech leaders, policymakers, founders and innovators on the official website of the AI Impact Summit. His name briefly disappeared from the key participants’ list on Wednesday (Feb 18), but the Gates Foundation had said that he would be delivering his keynote as scheduled on Thursday.According to the schedule, Gates was expected to deliver a 12-minute keynote address on Thursday at 11:50 am at Bharat Mandapam, where several global leaders and industrialists are expected to participate.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also delivered his speech at the summit, where he hailed the event as a milestone not just for India, but for the wider South Asian region.This marks the fourth year of the AI Impact Summit, an international conference dedicated to the swift progress in AI. Previous editions took place in Paris, Seoul, and Bletchley, historically known as Britain's wartime code-breaking centre. The New Delhi summit is the first global AI meeting held in a developing country. The five-day summit was scheduled to be wrapped up on Friday (Feb 20), but has now been extended by a day following strong public response.

Bill Gates will skip the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi after being named in US DOJ’s Epstein files. The Gates Foundation said Ankur Vora will represent the organisation at the event instead.

Bill Gates will not be attending the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the Gates Foundation India said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 19). This comes after the Microsoft co-founder was named in the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice. The organisation will instead be represented by Ankur Vora, President of the Africa and India Offices, who is set to speak at the Summit. “After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit's key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address. The Gates Foundation will be represented by Ankur Vora, President of Africa and India Offices, who will speak later today at the Summit,” the Gates Foundation India said. “The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals.”

Bill Gates will skip the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi after being named in the US DOJ’s Epstein files. The Gates Foundation said Ankur Vora will represent the organisation at the event instead.

Bill Gates to skip India AI Impact Summit after being named in Epstein files

Galgotias University on Wednesday (Feb 18) issued a fresh apology after facing backlash over a robot dog showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The robot dog, which was initially presented as an in-house innovation, was later found to be of Chinese origin. In its latest statement, the university admitted that confusion arose because its representative at the summit was "ill-informed" and insisted that despite her "enthusiasm of being on camera," Professor Neha Singh was not authorised to speak to the media.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/galgotias-university-robodog-row-exhibitors-must-not-display-government-warns-1771426780170">Galgotias University Robodog row: 'Exhibitors must not display...', govt warns</a><h2>Galgotias University apologises for displaying a Chinese robodog as its own innovation</h2>In a statement published on its X account, Galgotias University said, "We at Galgotias University wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent AI Summit."Blaming Singh, the university said, "One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and, in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press," the statement read. Amid reports that the university was asked to vacate the premises, it added that it had vacated the premises after understanding the "organisers sentiments".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moscow-rejects-us-claim-india-will-ditch-russian-oil-says-trump-trying-to-grab-right-to-dictate-to-independent-nations-1771464523183">Russia blasts US over India oil claim, slams Trump's attempt to dictate terms</a><h2>The Robodog controversy: What happened?</h2>The row erupted after a video from the summit went viral on social media. In the clip, Professor Neha Singh introduced a robot dog named "Orion," saying it had been developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. She described the machine as capable of surveillance and campus monitoring, claiming it could move autonomously across the premises.Soon after, several users online pointed out that the robot resembled a model made by Chinese robotics firm Unitree, raising questions about its origin.In its initial response, the university denied ever claiming to have manufactured the robot dog. "Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed to do so," it said, adding that its focus is on training students to design and deploy advanced technologies using globally available tools. "What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies here in Bharat."<h2>Summit fallout</h2>The controversy escalated when reports emerged that the university had been asked to vacate its stall at the AI Impact Summit Expo for causing what was described as a "national embarrassment."Taking responsibility, Professor Neha Singh said the issue stemmed from a communication lapse. "The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly," she said, adding that her remarks were made "with a lot of energy and enthusiasm" and may not have been articulated properly.

Galgotias University has apologised after a robot dog showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 was wrongly presented as an in-house innovation, but later identified as a Chinese Unitree model. It blamed an “ill-informed” Professor Neha Singh for the controversy.

Galgotias University on Wednesday (Feb 18) issued a fresh apology after facing backlash over a robot dog showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The robot dog, which was initially presented as an in-house innovation, was later found to be of Chinese origin. In its latest statement, the university admitted that confusion arose because its representative at the summit was "ill-informed" and insisted that despite her "enthusiasm of being on camera," Professor Neha Singh was not authorised to speak to the media. Also read | Galgotias University Robodog row: 'Exhibitors must not display...', govt warns Galgotias University apologises for displaying a Chinese robodog as its own innovation In a statement published on its X account, Galgotias University said, "We at Galgotias University wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent AI Summit." Blaming Singh, the university said, "One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and, in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press," the statement read. Amid reports that the university was asked to vacate the premises, it added that it had vacated the premises after understanding the "organisers sentiments". Also read | Russia blasts US over India oil claim, slams Trump's attempt to dictate terms The Robodog controversy: What happened? The row erupted after a video from the summit went viral on social media. In the clip, Professor Neha Singh introduced a robot dog named "Orion," saying it had been developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. She described the machine as capable of surveillance and campus monitoring, claiming it could move autonomously across the premises. Soon after, several users online pointed out that the robot resembled a model made by Chinese robotics firm Unitree, raising questions about its origin. In its initial response, the university denied ever claiming to have manufactured the robot dog. "Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed to do so," it said, adding that its focus is on training students to design and deploy advanced technologies using globally available tools. "What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies here in Bharat." Summit fallout The controversy escalated when reports emerged that the university had been asked to vacate its stall at the AI Impact Summit Expo for causing what was described as a "national embarrassment." Taking responsibility, Professor Neha Singh said the issue stemmed from a communication lapse. "The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly," she said, adding that her remarks were made "with a lot of energy and enthusiasm" and may not have been articulated properly.

Galgotias University has apologised after a robot dog showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 was wrongly presented as an in-house innovation, but later identified as a Chinese Unitree model. It blamed an “ill-informed” Professor Neha Singh for the controversy.

Galgotias University blames professor Neha Singh's 'enthusiasm of being on camera' for AI robodog row

The Centre has issued a warning to exhibitors following the controversy surrounding Galgotias University at the AI Impact Summit 2026. IT Secretary S Krishnan, speaking to news agency PTI on Wednesday (February 18), stressed that participants at such events must refrain from presenting products or technologies that do not belong to them. The warning comes after Galgotias University faced criticism for allegedly showcasing a Chinese-made robot dog as its own creation during the summit. A video circulating on social media showed the university’s stall displaying the robotic quadruped, prompting users to question its origin.&nbsp;Authorities reportedly directed the university to vacate its booth at the summit, calling the incident a “national embarrassment” after claims surfaced that the robot was not an in-house innovation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-i-could-have-been-more-galgotias-professor-neha-singh-on-robodog-row-at-india-ai-impact-summit-1771412394196">'I could have been more...': Galgotias professor Neha Singh on Robodog row at India AI Impact Summit</a>&nbsp;In response, Galgotias University attributed the confusion to Professor Neha Singh, who was representing the institution at the event. The university said that she was not authorised to speak to the media and suggested that incorrect information was shared in the excitement of being interviewed. The issue gained traction after footage showed Professor Singh introducing the robot dog, named “Orion,” as a development of the university’s Centre of Excellence. She highlighted its capabilities, including surveillance and campus mobility.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-tensions-us-vp-vance-says-iran-hasn-t-met-red-lines-as-us-moves-50-fighter-jets-near-iran-1771425869100/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-tensions-us-vp-vance-says-iran-hasn-t-met-red-lines-as-us-moves-50-fighter-jets-near-iran-1771425869100/embed</a>&nbsp;However, online observers quickly identified the machine as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robot produced by China-based Unitree Robotics and commonly used in research and academic environments. Following the backlash, the university issued a clarification asserting that it never claimed to have manufactured the robotic device. In its statement, the institution emphasised that while it did not build the robot, its focus remains on nurturing students who will eventually design and produce advanced technologies domestically.

Galgotias University Robodog row: 'Exhibitors must not display...', government warns

The Centre has issued a warning to exhibitors following the controversy surrounding Galgotias University at the AI Impact Summit 2026. IT Secretary S Krishnan, speaking to news agency PTI on Wednesday (February 18), stressed that participants at such events must refrain from presenting products or technologies that do not belong to them. The warning comes after Galgotias University faced criticism for allegedly showcasing a Chinese-made robot dog as its own creation during the summit. A video circulating on social media showed the university’s stall displaying the robotic quadruped, prompting users to question its origin. Authorities reportedly directed the university to vacate its booth at the summit, calling the incident a “national embarrassment” after claims surfaced that the robot was not an in-house innovation. Also Read: 'I could have been more...': Galgotias professor Neha Singh on Robodog row at India AI Impact Summit In response, Galgotias University attributed the confusion to Professor Neha Singh, who was representing the institution at the event. The university said that she was not authorised to speak to the media and suggested that incorrect information was shared in the excitement of being interviewed. The issue gained traction after footage showed Professor Singh introducing the robot dog, named “Orion,” as a development of the university’s Centre of Excellence. She highlighted its capabilities, including surveillance and campus mobility. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-tensions-us-vp-vance-says-iran-hasn-t-met-red-lines-as-us-moves-50-fighter-jets-near-iran-1771425869100/embed However, online observers quickly identified the machine as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robot produced by China-based Unitree Robotics and commonly used in research and academic environments. Following the backlash, the university issued a clarification asserting that it never claimed to have manufactured the robotic device. In its statement, the institution emphasised that while it did not build the robot, its focus remains on nurturing students who will eventually design and produce advanced technologies domestically.

Centre warns exhibitors after Galgotias faced backlash for allegedly presenting a Chinese Unitree robot dog as its own at the ongoing AI Summit 2026

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pointed out the difference in the approach of various countries towards artificial intelligence and said he finds there is enormous optimism and trust towards AI in India, unlike in Western countries that still have a dominating feeling of anxiety for the emerging technology. Speaking at an event titled ‘Governing in the Age of AI: Sovereignty, Impact, and Strategy’ at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday, Sunak said that addressing this disparity in public confidence remains a critical challenge for leaders worldwide.&nbsp;In a fireside chat with Meta’s Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Sunak said, “Across the world, we’re seeing different attitudes towards AI. In countries like India, there’s enormous optimism and trust, and in Western countries, we’re seeing that anxiety is still the dominant feeling towards AI."&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/govt-extends-ai-impact-summit-by-a-day-amid-record-turnout-event-to-go-on-till-feb-21-1771411580595">Govt extends AI Impact Summit by a day amid record turnout, event to go on till Feb 21</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The former UK prime minister said bridging this divide would require more than technological progress alone and called for deliberate policy interventions to foster greater public trust.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I think closing that confidence gap is as much a policy task as it is a technical one,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘India a country with huge digital ambitions and capacity’</h2>&nbsp;Sunak described India as “a country with huge digital ambitions and capacity’ and underlined the extraordinary scale of recent AI investments. “This year, the large AI companies are going to spend 20 times more on developing this technology than the US did for the Manhattan Project,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sunak’s observations came in a fireside chat with Meta’s Alexandr Wang on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-hold-talks-with-google-ceo-sundar-pichai-at-india-ai-impact-summit-discuss-ai-innovation-and-talent-development-1771409823534">PM Modi hold talks with Google CEO Sundar Pichai at India AI Impact Summit; discuss AI innovation and talent development</a>&nbsp;The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.&nbsp;&nbsp;It aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India’s national vision of ‘Sarvajana hitaye, sarvajana sukhaye’ (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/eci-announces-rajya-sabha-polls-for-37-seats-across-10-states-on-march-16-1771409050709">ECI announces Rajya Sabha polls for 37 seats across 10 states on March 16</a>&nbsp;<h2>‘There are more consumer AI startups in India than in US’</h2>&nbsp;Meta’s Chief AI Officer Wang also hailed India’s rising stature in the AI ecosystem and said, “I was at a dinner with a number of Indian founders and venture capitalists last night, and the statistic was that there are more consumer AI startups in India than in the United States.”&nbsp;Guided by the three foundational Sutras—People, Planet, and Progress—the India AI Impact Summit 2026 promotes human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological progress.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Former UK PM Rishi Sunak described India as a country with huge digital ambitions and capacity and said this year, the large AI companies are going to spend 20 times more on developing this technology than the US did for the Manhattan Project.

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pointed out the difference in the approach of various countries towards artificial intelligence and said he finds there is enormous optimism and trust towards AI in India, unlike in Western countries that still have a dominating feeling of anxiety for the emerging technology. Speaking at an event titled ‘Governing in the Age of AI: Sovereignty, Impact, and Strategy’ at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday, Sunak said that addressing this disparity in public confidence remains a critical challenge for leaders worldwide. In a fireside chat with Meta’s Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Sunak said, “Across the world, we’re seeing different attitudes towards AI. In countries like India, there’s enormous optimism and trust, and in Western countries, we’re seeing that anxiety is still the dominant feeling towards AI." Also Read: Govt extends AI Impact Summit by a day amid record turnout, event to go on till Feb 21 The former UK prime minister said bridging this divide would require more than technological progress alone and called for deliberate policy interventions to foster greater public trust. “I think closing that confidence gap is as much a policy task as it is a technical one,” he added. ‘India a country with huge digital ambitions and capacity’ Sunak described India as “a country with huge digital ambitions and capacity’ and underlined the extraordinary scale of recent AI investments. “This year, the large AI companies are going to spend 20 times more on developing this technology than the US did for the Manhattan Project,” he said. Sunak’s observations came in a fireside chat with Meta’s Alexandr Wang on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026. Also Read: PM Modi hold talks with Google CEO Sundar Pichai at India AI Impact Summit; discuss AI innovation and talent development The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence. It aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India’s national vision of ‘Sarvajana hitaye, sarvajana sukhaye’ (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity. Also Read: ECI announces Rajya Sabha polls for 37 seats across 10 states on March 16 ‘There are more consumer AI startups in India than in US’ Meta’s Chief AI Officer Wang also hailed India’s rising stature in the AI ecosystem and said, “I was at a dinner with a number of Indian founders and venture capitalists last night, and the statistic was that there are more consumer AI startups in India than in the United States.” Guided by the three foundational Sutras—People, Planet, and Progress—the India AI Impact Summit 2026 promotes human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological progress.

Former UK PM Rishi Sunak described India as a country with huge digital ambitions and capacity and said this year, the large AI companies are going to spend 20 times more on developing this technology than the US did for the Manhattan Project.

Former UK PM Rishi Sunak hails India’s ‘enormous optimism, trust for AI,’ unlike scepticism in West

At the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Google unveiled a series of major initiatives aimed at accelerating India’s digital and artificial intelligence ecosystem. CEO Sundar Pichai outlined plans to expand digital infrastructure, deepen AI research collaborations, and equip millions with AI-driven skills as adoption surges nationwide.&nbsp;A key highlight was the launch of the America-India Connect initiative, a strategic subsea cable project designed to establish new high-capacity data corridors between the United States and India. The fiber-optic network will also extend connectivity to regions across the Southern Hemisphere, strengthening global digital links. Pichai emphasised that Google’s investments reinforce the foundational infrastructure powering the digital economy, saying that enhanced connectivity will improve network resilience and expand access to cloud services and AI-powered platforms for businesses and developers.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-i-could-have-been-more-galgotias-professor-neha-singh-on-robodog-row-at-india-ai-impact-summit-1771412394196">'I could have been more...': Galgotias professor Neha Singh on Robodog row at India AI Impact Summit</a>&nbsp;The initiative builds upon Google’s existing subsea cable systems spanning the Pacific and Africa, further expanding the company’s global connectivity footprint. Speaking on AI’s broader potential, Preeti Lobana, Vice President and Country Manager of Google India, highlighted the transformative impact of artificial intelligence when adapted to local contexts. She stressed that partnerships with governments can integrate AI into sectors such as education, scientific research, and public services to drive inclusive growth.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Google DeepMind is strengthening its India engagement through a collaboration with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. The partnership will provide Indian researchers access to advanced AI-for-science tools, including AlphaGenome, AI Co-scientist, and Earth AI. It will also support hackathons, academic mentorship, and innovation-focused programs for universities and startups.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rafale-deal-boost-hammer-missiles-to-be-made-in-india-with-bharat-electronics-wion-1771419603753/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/rafale-deal-boost-hammer-missiles-to-be-made-in-india-with-bharat-electronics-wion-1771419603753/embed</a>&nbsp;On the education front, Google plans to introduce generative AI assistants to nearly 11 million students via Atal Tinkering Labs. The initiative aims to foster early exposure to AI, coding, and scientific problem-solving skills. Workforce development is another major focus area. Google will collaborate with Karmayogi Bharat to train approximately 20 million public servants across more than 800 districts in AI and digital competencies. Collectively, these initiatives signal Google’s intensified commitment to positioning India as a global AI innovation hub while expanding access to cutting-edge digital infrastructure.

AI Impact Summit 2026: Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces new India-US subsea cable project

At the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Google unveiled a series of major initiatives aimed at accelerating India’s digital and artificial intelligence ecosystem. CEO Sundar Pichai outlined plans to expand digital infrastructure, deepen AI research collaborations, and equip millions with AI-driven skills as adoption surges nationwide. A key highlight was the launch of the America-India Connect initiative, a strategic subsea cable project designed to establish new high-capacity data corridors between the United States and India. The fiber-optic network will also extend connectivity to regions across the Southern Hemisphere, strengthening global digital links. Pichai emphasised that Google’s investments reinforce the foundational infrastructure powering the digital economy, saying that enhanced connectivity will improve network resilience and expand access to cloud services and AI-powered platforms for businesses and developers. Also Read: 'I could have been more...': Galgotias professor Neha Singh on Robodog row at India AI Impact Summit The initiative builds upon Google’s existing subsea cable systems spanning the Pacific and Africa, further expanding the company’s global connectivity footprint. Speaking on AI’s broader potential, Preeti Lobana, Vice President and Country Manager of Google India, highlighted the transformative impact of artificial intelligence when adapted to local contexts. She stressed that partnerships with governments can integrate AI into sectors such as education, scientific research, and public services to drive inclusive growth. Meanwhile, Google DeepMind is strengthening its India engagement through a collaboration with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. The partnership will provide Indian researchers access to advanced AI-for-science tools, including AlphaGenome, AI Co-scientist, and Earth AI. It will also support hackathons, academic mentorship, and innovation-focused programs for universities and startups. https://www.wionews.com/videos/rafale-deal-boost-hammer-missiles-to-be-made-in-india-with-bharat-electronics-wion-1771419603753/embed On the education front, Google plans to introduce generative AI assistants to nearly 11 million students via Atal Tinkering Labs. The initiative aims to foster early exposure to AI, coding, and scientific problem-solving skills. Workforce development is another major focus area. Google will collaborate with Karmayogi Bharat to train approximately 20 million public servants across more than 800 districts in AI and digital competencies. Collectively, these initiatives signal Google’s intensified commitment to positioning India as a global AI innovation hub while expanding access to cutting-edge digital infrastructure.

At the AI Summit 2026, Google announces subsea cable, AI research partnerships, and large-scale training programs to accelerate India’s digital and AI ecosystem growth

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