New Delhi is preparing to host the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16-20, and Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, a philanthropist and Grammy-winning artist, has expressed strong support for India's growing focus on artificial intelligence. Tandon lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for prioritizing AI, calling the efforts "stunningly impressive".
Tandon highlighted the significance of using AI to benefit all sectors of society, aligning with the goals of "Viksit Bharat" and other broad initiatives. The India AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI summit to be held in the Global South, aims to transition from discussions to tangible impacts, focusing on "People, Planet, and Progress". It envisions a future where AI promotes inclusive growth, benefits humanity, and protects the planet.
Tandon noted that the summit will foster collaboration and innovation by bringing together government representatives, industry leaders, and academics from around the world. She emphasized that the informal interactions resulting from the summit would be just as valuable as the formal agenda. The summit signals India's commitment to AI on a global stage.
India's approach to AI democratization emphasizes scale, inclusion, and innovation. The focus on affordability, openness, and trust ensures AI benefits reach various segments of society, including farmers, students, researchers, startups, and public institutions. Democratizing AI requires ensuring open, affordable, and accessible foundational infrastructure. India's strategy encompasses applications, models, compute, infrastructure, and energy, treating these layers as interconnected national capabilities.
Tandon also acknowledged the establishment of a dedicated School of Artificial Intelligence at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) as a "real milestone for India". She and her husband, Ranjan Tandon, have provided a generous endowment of ₹100 crore to establish the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIMA. This school will focus on advancing India's capabilities in AI research, education, and real-world applications, operating at the intersection of technology, management, and societal development. The school aims to translate AI research into solutions for decision-making and addressing complex challenges across sectors.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 will feature discussions organized around seven interconnected thematic areas or "Chakras". One key initiative is the "Democratizing AI Resources Working Group," co-chaired by India, Egypt, and Kenya, which promotes a more inclusive AI ecosystem through shared access, collaboration, and capacity building. The summit is expected to host 15 to 20 heads of government, over 50 international ministers, and more than 100 global and Indian CXOs.
According to the Stanford AI Index Report 2025, India is a leader in global AI talent acquisition, with approximately 33% annual hiring growth, and ranks among the top three in the Global AI Vibrancy Tool. The Indian government is supporting AI workforce development through the IndiaAI FutureSkills initiative, which supports PhD scholars, postgraduates, and undergraduates. The IndiaAI mission, approved in March 2024 with a financial outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore over five years, aims to expand access, strengthen data availability, and enable responsible AI use for public good.