Global Leaders Clash & Converge On AI’s Future At India Summit

India at the Centre of the AI Debate

NEW Delhi this week became the epicentre of global discussions on artificial intelligence as world leaders, technology executives and policymakers gathered for the India AI Impact Summit.

The week-long summit — themed “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” (welfare and happiness for all) — is the fourth in a series of international AI gatherings launched in 2023, following editions in the United Kingdom, France and South Korea. It marks the first time the summit has been hosted in a developing nation, signalling a deliberate shift toward including the Global South in shaping AI’s trajectory.

With more than 20 heads of state, 60 ministers, and hundreds of CEOs, founders and researchers in attendance, the summit broadened its focus beyond safety to include infrastructure, governance, economic opportunity and geopolitical strategy.

A Call for Global Access

Addressing delegates, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, warned that the future of AI should not be dictated by a handful of corporate actors.

“Without investment, many countries will be logged out of the AI age,” he said, urging support for a proposed $3 billion Global Fund on AI to help developing countries build capacity in skills, computing power and data infrastructure.

Guterres argued that the amount represents less than one per cent of the annual revenue of a single major tech company, making it a modest but crucial investment.

While acknowledging AI’s potential to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate medical and agricultural breakthroughs, he cautioned that unregulated systems could deepen inequality and expose children to harm.

“No child should be a test subject for unregulated AI,” he said.

Europe Pushes for Rule-Making

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised shared governance and multilateral cooperation.

“We are determined to continue to shape the rules of the game,” Macron said, highlighting collaboration with India as central to building a balanced regulatory framework.

The message reinforced Europe’s broader approach to AI — promoting innovation while embedding regulatory safeguards.

India’s Balancing Act

Prime Minister Narendra Modi framed India’s hosting of the summit as both an opportunity and a responsibility.

“AI technology will only be beneficial when it is shared, and its core systems are open,” Modi said, positioning India as a bridge between advanced economies and developing nations.

He argued that AI models proven in India’s vast and diverse population could be scaled globally. India, he said, is entering an era where humans and intelligent systems “co-create, co-work and co-evolve.”

The Question of Sovereignty

Representing the United States, Michael Kratsios addressed concerns among middle powers about technological dependence.

He rejected the notion of complete technological self-containment, describing the AI stack as too complex for isolationist strategies. Instead, he advocated “strategic autonomy alongside rapid AI adoption.”

“America is the only AI superpower willing and able to empower partner nations,” he said, promising secure infrastructure and resilient supply chains.

The remarks underscored growing geopolitical competition over AI infrastructure and influence.

From Safety to Strategy

The summit’s evolution reflects how quickly AI has moved from experimental novelty to geopolitical imperative. When the first meeting was held in 2023 — shortly after the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT — discussions centred primarily on safety risks.

Now, the debate spans economic competitiveness, sovereignty, child protection, labour disruption and global governance.

Although the India summit is not expected to produce a binding agreement, it may conclude with a non-binding declaration outlining shared principles.

For now, the consensus appears clear: AI’s future will not be shaped by technology alone, but by politics, partnerships and power.