Tech billionaires fly in for Delhi AI expo as Modi jostles to lead in south

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Robert Booth UK technology editorFebruary 18, 2026 at 06:00 AM

Read Original Article

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Tech billionaires like Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, and Dario Amodei are attending the AI Impact Summit in Delhi this week, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit brings together tech leaders, government officials from the Global South, and AI experts to discuss AI adoption and its potential impact on sectors like agriculture and public health. Modi aims to position India as a leading AI hub for South Asia and Africa, emphasizing "human-centric progress." While the summit focuses on AI's benefits, concerns have been raised about its potential for increased state surveillance and discrimination. The Delhi meeting marks the first major AI summit held in the Global South, highlighting a potential clash between US tech companies and an approach focused on social justice.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Microsoft 40% Kenya ×240% United States 40% Rishi Sunak ×250% Sam Altman 60% Silicon Valley 60% Sundar Pichai 60% OpenAI ×260% AI Impact Summit ×370% Delhi ×370% India ×580% Narendra Modi ×490%

Keywords

artificial intelligence 100% ai impact summit 90% global south 80% technology 70% narendra modi 60% ai adoption 60% tech billionaires 50% state surveillance 40% ai colonialism 40%