New Delhi’s tech scene is buzzing with a groundbreaking commitment from global AI leaders. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday that leading artificial intelligence companies are voluntarily teaming up with Indian innovators to pioneer responsible and inclusive AI development.
Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Vaishnaw highlighted collaborations with homegrown firms like Sarvam, BharatGen, Gyaani, and Soket. These partnerships aim to craft a shared vision for AI that prioritizes ethics, inclusivity, and real-world relevance.
The initiative focuses on evidence-based policymaking by harnessing anonymized, aggregated insights from AI’s practical applications. This will shed light on its impacts on jobs, skills, and economic transformation, ensuring policies are grounded in data rather than speculation.
A key pillar is bolstering multilingual and contextually relevant evaluations of AI systems. The goal? To make sure AI performs effectively across languages, cultures, and use cases, with a special emphasis on the Global South.
Vaishnaw emphasized that these efforts mark a pivotal step toward shaping powerful yet inclusive AI that drives growth and resonates globally. This positions India at the forefront of Global South-led AI governance, striking a balance between innovation, equity, and tangible impact.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone in his keynote, likening AI to the world’s biggest technological shift—but faster. ‘From machine learning to learning machines, the journey is swift, profound, and expansive,’ he said. Modi urged a grand vision paired with immense responsibility, stressing that today’s choices will define the AI legacy for future generations.
The real question, according to Modi, isn’t what AI can do tomorrow, but what we do with it today. This summit underscores India’s rising role in steering ethical AI worldwide.