New Delhi witnessed a stark revelation on Wednesday as former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighted India’s unwavering optimism towards artificial intelligence, contrasting sharply with the West’s prevailing anxieties. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Sunak emphasized the need for targeted governance to bridge this confidence gap.
In an informal dialogue with Meta’s Chief AI Officer Alexander Wang, Sunak noted, ‘This trust deficit is as much a policy challenge as it is a technological one.’ He painted a global picture where nations like India brim with ambition and capability in the digital realm, fueled by unprecedented AI investments.
Sunak drew a bold comparison, stating that major AI firms are set to invest this year an amount 20 times greater than what the US spent on the Manhattan Project during World War II. This surge underscores India’s digital prowess, where consumer AI startups now outnumber those in the United States.
Wang echoed the excitement, describing the current era as ‘an incredibly thrilling time for technology,’ with India emerging as a positive force in the global AI ecosystem. The summit, hosted from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, gathers policymakers, industry leaders, academics, innovators, and civil society from around the world to shape AI’s future.
As discussions continue, Sunak’s insights signal a pivotal moment for international AI collaboration, urging Western nations to match India’s bold vision and mitigate regulatory hesitations that could stifle innovation.