Countries that do not embrace AI could be left behind, says OpenAI’s George Osborne

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Robert Booth in DelhiFebruary 18, 2026 at 06:57 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

At an AI Impact summit in Delhi, OpenAI's George Osborne warned countries against lagging in AI adoption, arguing it could lead to economic and workforce disadvantages. Osborne, now heading OpenAI's "for countries" program, framed the choice as adopting AI systems from either the US or China. The summit, hosted by India's Prime Minister Modi, focused on leveraging AI for the global south, including regional languages, agriculture, and public health, while also addressing safety standards. The White House's AI advisor, Sriram Krishnan, emphasized the US's desire for AI supremacy and criticized the EU's AI regulations, deeming them unfavorable for innovation. The summit highlighted the tension between embracing AI for progress and safeguarding national sovereignty when relying on foreign AI systems.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

France 30% United Kingdom 40% European Union ×240% Narendra Modi 50% Sriram Krishnan 50% India 60% China ×270% United States ×270% OpenAI ×280% George Osborne ×590%

Keywords

artificial intelligence 100% ai adoption 80% openai 70% national sovereignty 70% ai summit 70% global south 60% ai regulation 60% china 50% us 50% technological revolution 40%