AI Impact Summit 2026 kicks off at Bharat Mandapam at 10 AM; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the expo

India AI Impact Summit 2026 is all set to begin today (February 16). The event will kick start at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the summit. The event is scheduled to start at 10.00 am. The event marks the first time the summit is being hosted in a Global South country, underscoring India’s ambition to shape the global conversation on artificial intelligence. Many popular global tech leaders are expected to attend the event. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Anthropic's Dario Amodei, and Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis are all expected at Bharat Mandapam.

With more than 40 CEOs, 20 heads of states and an expected $100 billion in investment commitments on the table, this is shaping up to be one of the most significant tech gatherings of the year. PM Modi is also expected to meet around 40 CEOs on the sidelines of the event. The five day AI summit is created around three important pillars which are people, planet and progress. The summit will run across different venues in the national capital which include Bharat Mandapam and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan.

Three 'sutras,' seven 'chakras,' and over 700 session proposals

The summit is organised around three pillars called 'Sutras' — People, Planet, and Progress. These branch into seven 'Chakras' or working groups. Each one covers a specific domain: AI skilling, social inclusion, AI safety, scientific research, sustainable computing, democratising AI access, and economic growth.

Officials emphasized that India is not seeking to impose rigid regulatory frameworks but is instead focusing on a human‑centric approach to AI, prioritizing equitable access and economic good. The Expo features 300+ exhibitions, 500 sessions, and over 3,000 speakers, structured around three thematic “chakras” — People, Planet, and Progress.

Upcoming highlights

* Feb 17: PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron will hold bilateral talks in Mumbai.

* Feb 18: Modi will host a banquet for dignitaries.

* Feb 19: Leaders’ summit followed by a Tech‑CEOs event.

* Feb 20: Brazil’s President Lula will lead a dedicated session on AI.

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