NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has praised India as the “right place” to host the AI Impact Summit, describing the country as a “very successful emerging economy” as New Delhi convenes government leaders, technology executives and policy specialists for a five-day gathering on artificial intelligence. The summit opened on Feb. 16 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and runs through Feb. 20, with Guterres scheduled to take part.
Guterres linked his endorsement to a call for wider access to the benefits of artificial intelligence, warning against a world in which gains are concentrated among wealthy nations or limited to a narrow set of global powers. He said that outcome would be unacceptable and framed the summit as an opportunity to broaden participation in AI development and governance. His remarks were delivered ahead of his trip to India for the event, which is drawing delegations from across regions.
India is hosting the summit through its Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, positioning the meeting as a Global South-led platform focused on practical uses of AI and international cooperation on responsible deployment. The agenda includes ministerial sessions, leader-level engagements, technical discussions and industry participation, alongside a wider program of side events. Indian officials have presented the summit as an effort to connect policy, innovation and adoption in areas that affect daily life.
The UN system is organizing dozens of associated events during the week in India, covering themes that include agriculture, health, education, ethical governance, capacity building and inclusion of women in technology. UN officials have emphasized that the summit itself is not a UN event, while confirming that Guterres will participate during the New Delhi program. The UN’s engagement has focused on aligning AI use with development priorities and safeguards for human rights.
Global South focus and governance agenda
India has framed the summit around the themes “People, Planet, Progress,” putting emphasis on public interest applications and sustainable development. Government briefings have outlined multiple thematic tracks and preparatory working groups, and India has said more than 100 countries have engaged in those consultations. Discussions have included issues such as access to computing resources, talent development, transparency, accountability, risk management, and how to support adoption in lower and middle income economies.
The summit has attracted a mix of heads of state and government, ministers, regulators, researchers and private sector leaders, reflecting growing pressure on governments to respond to rapid advances in AI systems. India’s foreign ministry has said leaders including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are among those scheduled to attend at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation, alongside other senior representatives from different regions.
Expo and practical applications
Alongside the policy program, India is hosting an AI Impact Expo at Bharat Mandapam during the same Feb. 16 to Feb. 20 window, highlighting applications and commercial deployments. Government statements have said the expo features hundreds of exhibition pavilions, startup participation and country showcases, with demonstrations tied to sectors such as healthcare, climate resilience, agriculture, education and public service delivery. Organizers have also promoted global challenges and awards designed to surface scalable projects.
Guterres’ comments have added UN weight to the summit’s central message that AI governance should be shaped by broad participation rather than a small group of countries and companies. Indian officials have described the planned outcome as a concluding declaration that is not legally binding, intended to capture shared principles and practical commitments. The New Delhi meeting has been presented as a forum to connect safety and trust measures with development goals and real-world implementation. – By Content Syndication Services.