IIT Madras Hosts Pre-Summit on Safe, Trusted AI Ahead of India–AI Summit 2026

This gathering sets the stage for the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, to be held for the first time in the Global South, scheduled from February 15–20, 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

In line with India’s commitment to building a safe, trusted, and inclusive global AI ecosystem, the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras, in collaboration with the IndiaAI Mission under MeitY, is hosting a major Pre-Summit Event on December 11 in Chennai. The programme begins with a formal inauguration on December 10, followed by a full day of thematic sessions and a hybrid, closed-door Working Group meeting exploring AI safety, governance and global cooperation.

This gathering sets the stage for the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, to be held for the first time in the Global South, scheduled from February 15–20, 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

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Distinguished Leaders and Global Experts to Participate

The Pre-Summit will bring together key policymakers, innovators and academic leaders including:

• Thiru. Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Tamil Nadu

• Prof. Kamakoti V., Director, IIT Madras

• Sriraam Natarajan, Professor, University of Texas at Dallas

• Prof. Balaraman Ravindran, Head, WSAI, IIT Madras & Chair, Safe & Trusted AI Working Group

• Senior officials from MeitY

• Experts from global industry, civil society, research institutions and government agencies

The cross-disciplinary presence underscores India’s role in steering inclusive dialogues on ethical and responsible AI.

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Strengthening India’s Leadership in Responsible AI

Anchored in India’s national AI vision, the Conclave seeks to translate high-level principles of AI safety and ethics into actionable frameworks. With AI systems increasingly embedded in governance, healthcare, finance, education, and other sectors, challenges related to:

• fairness

• algorithmic accountability

• misuse and safety risks

• bias mitigation

• transparency and trust

have intensified across the world.

The Safe & Trusted AI Working Group, led by Prof. Balaraman Ravindran, aims to build frameworks that ensure:

• transparency in model development

• auditability and reliability

• public trust and responsible innovation

• equitable distribution of AI benefits

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Towards an AI Safety Commons for the Global South

A major theme of the Conclave will be the creation of an AI Safety Commons—a shared ecosystem of:

• datasets

• safety benchmarks

• evaluation tools

• governance resources

designed to help Global South nations develop trustworthy AI aligned with their socio-cultural needs.

Panels and interactive sessions will assess models for:

• scalable governance and regulatory frameworks

• globally interoperable yet locally adaptable safety standards

• strengthening institutional capacity in responsible AI research

• cross-border collaboration to mitigate AI risks

The discussions aim to craft a roadmap enabling governments and organizations to implement responsible AI at scale without stifling innovation.

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Shaping the Vision for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

Insights emerging from the Pre-Summit will directly contribute to the agenda and outcomes of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, which seeks to position India as a global leader in shaping norms for AI that prioritize safety, inclusion and public trust.

By bringing together stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil society, the Chennai Pre-Summit serves as a foundational milestone in strengthening global cooperation on responsible AI for the decade ahead.