AI Impact Summit: Igniting India’s ‘JanAI’ for Viksit Bharat

New Delhi is set to host the AI Impact Summit 2026, a landmark event poised to redefine India’s trajectory in artificial intelligence. Scheduled as a beacon of innovation, this summit transcends traditional conferences; it’s a clarion call for India’s emergence as a world leader in AI development. In an era where AI shapes economies, societies and geopolitics, the summit positions India not as a follower, but as a trailblazer. By fusing cutting-edge technology with grassroots participation, it embodies the spirit of transforming AI into a “people’s movement” — AI for larger impact or ‘JanAI’ - propelling the nation towards Viksit Bharat, a developed India by 2047.

At its core, the summit addresses a pressing need: a robust communication strategy that elevates it from an elite gathering to a national phenomenon. Mere announcements won’t suffice; India must craft a narrative that resonates with every citizen, turning the event into a household conversation. Building a “people’s connect” demands innovative outreach — social media campaigns, regional town halls, and AI-powered apps that let citizens co-create summit agendas. By scaling participation, the summit fosters Jan Bhagidari (public involvement) and ignites a Jan Aandolan (people’s movement), much like successful national drives such as Swachh Bharat or Digital India. Crucially, this approach also recognises that trust in emerging technologies is built through clarity, consistency and transparency. Communicating not just the promise of AI but also its risks, safeguards and accountability mechanisms helps create informed confidence among citizens. Translating complex ideas on AI governance, ethics and safety into accessible, multilingual narratives ensures broader understanding without oversimplification. Meaningful two-way communication, where feedback is invited, acknowledged and reflected, strengthens legitimacy and public ownership, ensuring that AI governance in India is not merely designed for the people, but shaped with them.

Strategically, the AI Impact Summit stands as one of India’s most critical events on the global stage. As superpowers race for AI supremacy, India’s demographic dividend, with over 1.4 billion people and a burgeoning tech talent pool, offers unmatched potential. Hosting the summit in the heart of the capital signals Delhi’s readiness to lead. It will convene global CEOs, policymakers, ethicists and innovators to deliberate on AI governance, ethical deployment and inclusive growth. For India, this isn’t just prestige; it’s a pivot towards self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat).

The event underscores how technology can accelerate India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat, the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. AI, when deployed inclusively, is projected to contribute trillions of dollars to economic growth, and India aims to ensure these gains reach the last mile.

A defining strength of the summit lies in how it is communicated to the nation. Rather than remaining confined to elite policy rooms, the India-AI Impact Summit is designed to become a household conversation. Drawing on the spirit of Jan Bhagidari and Jan Aandolan, its outreach strategy seeks to demystify AI and anchor it in everyday life. A coordinated media presence, regional radio, podcasts and digital platforms - from Instagram Reels to short-form videos - will ensure the summit resonates equally in metropolitan centres and rural heartlands, positioning ethical and inclusive AI as India’s defining contribution to the world.

At its philosophical core, the summit is guided by three foundational Sutras - People, Planet and Progress — which blend civilisational values with modern governance. These principles shape India’s vision of multilateral AI cooperation. The focus on People ensures that human dignity, equity and empowerment remain central. Planet anchors AI innovation in sustainability and climate resilience. Progress commits to ensuring that AI-driven advancements in healthcare, education, agriculture and public services are accessible and fair. Together, these Sutras provide direction for global discussions, steering them towards shared prosperity rather than narrow technological dominance.

Translating these principles into action are seven interconnected Chakras that structure the summit’s agenda and partnerships. Human capital development focuses on skilling and workforce augmentation, with nationwide hackathons, youth-led challenges and influencer-driven engagement mobilising students and young professionals at scale. Social inclusion and empowerment address algorithmic bias, accessibility and multilingual AI, brought alive through human stories shared via regional media and podcasts that highlight technology’s impact on marginalised communities. The emphasis on safe and trusted AI builds public confidence through transparent governance discussions, animated explainers and widely shared leadership messages that turn ethics into a subject of everyday conversation.

Resilience, innovation and efficiency are advanced through a push for lean and sustainable AI solutions, demonstrated via real-world use cases aligned with national initiatives such as Swachh Bharat. Scientific collaboration is strengthened through Global South partnerships, positioning India as a hub for frontier research through broadcasts, documentaries and digital discourse led by scientists. Democratising AI resources — data, compute and models — encourages open participation, supported by digital platforms that invite public input and foster a sense of collective ownership. Finally, AI for economic growth and social good highlights public-sector applications and cross-border initiatives, amplified through success stories from farmers, visual economic insights and high-visibility endorsements that make AI aspirational and relatable.

The legacy of the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 extends far beyond its two-day schedule. It lays the foundation for recurring global engagements, pan-India AI corridors and durable international frameworks. By championing JanAI - ethical, inclusive and powered by public participation — India offers the world, particularly the Global South, an alternative model of AI leadership. Supported by institutional collaboration and growing international interest, the summit advances the trinity of innovation, equity and sustainability that defines Viksit Bharat. In doing so, New Delhi will not merely host a global event; it will help redefine the future of artificial intelligence, demonstrating how technology can deliver shared prosperity from the grassroots to the global stage. Equally significant is the summit’s contribution to strengthening trust in AI governance. By emphasising transparency, public understanding and continuous dialogue, it reinforces the idea that effective AI frameworks succeed only when they are widely understood and responsibly implemented. The summit also sets a precedent for treating accountability and learning as core features of innovation, normalising open discussion on risks, safeguards and course correction. Over time, this approach can deepen institutional credibility, encourage voluntary compliance and inspire global cooperation rooted in shared values rather than technological dominance alone. As India moves towards its 2047 vision, the AI Impact Summit 2026 stands as a marker of how leadership in the digital age is defined not just by technological capability, but by the ability to build confidence, inclusion and collective ownership in shaping the future.

Chaitanya K Prasad is a Commentator and Writer on Cinema, Branding, Media Management and Geo-Strategic Communication; co-authored the book “When Branding Met The Movies”published by National Book Trust recently. Inputs provided by Zoya Ahmad & Vaishnavie Srinivasan

Equally significant is the summit’s contribution to strengthening trust in AI governance. By emphasising transparency, public understanding and continuous dialogue, it reinforces the idea that effective AI frameworks succeed only when they are widely understood and responsibly implemented