India and France have described the upcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi as a significant milestone for global artificial intelligence governance. The summit will focus on inclusion, development, and tangible results on the ground.
During a discussion at the CSIS conference in the United States, Indian Ambassador Vinay M. Kwatra and French Ambassador Laurent Bili emphasised that the February summit in New Delhi will build on previous global AI conferences. It will highlight the needs of developing countries, also known as the Global South.
Ambassador Kwatra noted that this is the first time such a major global AI summit is being held in a developing country. He said this was important to demonstrate that AI is not just for developed nations but can benefit societies worldwide.
According to Kwatra, India has centred the summit around three themes — people, planet, and progress. The main aim is to make AI accessible to everyone. The goal is that AI should be widely available, easy to use, and scalable.
French Ambassador Bili stated that France and India are continuing their cooperation that began with the AI Action Summit in Paris in 2025. That summit shifted the focus from rules and regulations to practical use and investment in AI. Now, the emphasis is on implementation, with programmes on sustainable and public-interest AI planned for the Delhi summit.
Kwatra explained that the focus on “impact” means moving beyond theoretical discussions to applying AI and seeing concrete outcomes. He said society must advance towards the real-world use of AI.
The summit will feature a large AI expo with hundreds of exhibitors, research sessions, roundtable meetings of major industrialists and CEOs, and joint declarations from leaders. Kwatra described it as a full-fledged AI conference involving research, industry, and administration.
Both ambassadors noted that one objective is to avoid fragmented AI regulations worldwide while respecting each country’s policies.
Bili mentioned that since the Paris summit, France and Europe have made significant investments in AI, particularly in computing infrastructure and research. Kwatra added that India is witnessing similar rapid growth, with major global tech companies investing in AI infrastructure, computing capabilities, and energy.
According to Kwatra, India’s large population and rapidly growing digital platforms make it a key country for large-scale AI experimentation and implementation.
The AI Impact Summit will take place in New Delhi in February 2026. Previous such summits have been held in the UK, South Korea, and France.
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