:India–France Host UN Event Ahead of AI Impact Summit 2026, Led by Jitin Prasada

The curtain-raiser event, jointly organised by India and France, highlighted the need for global collaboration to ensure Artificial Intelligence is harnessed responsibly and inclusively for societal transformation.

 

At a high-level event titled “From Action to Impact”, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 16 December 2025, Shri Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & IT of India, outlined India's vision for the upcoming AI Impact Summit 2026, to be held in New Delhi on 19–20 February 2026.

The curtain-raiser event, jointly organised by India and France, highlighted the need for global collaboration to ensure Artificial Intelligence is harnessed responsibly and inclusively for societal transformation.

Participation of Global Leaders and AI Stakeholders

The session witnessed the presence of several eminent dignitaries, including:

• H.E. Jérôme Bonnafont, Permanent Representative of France

• Ms. Clara Chappaz, Ambassador for AI and Digital, Government of France

• Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Under-Secretary-General & Envoy on Technology

• Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General & Regional Director, UNDP

• Mr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General, UNESCO

• Ms. Nur Sulyna Abdullah, Chief of Strategic Planning & Membership, ITU

• Mr. Yacine Jernite, Head of Machine Learning & Society, Hugging Face

• Representatives from global tech organisations, academia, multilateral bodies, and civil society

Their participation reinforced the shared international commitment to shaping AI in ways that advance sustainable development, human rights, innovation, and global resilience.

Charting the Evolution of the Global AI Dialogue

Shri Prasada contextualised the current global AI moment by tracing the evolution of international deliberations:

• Bletchley Park (2023) – Focused primarily on AI risks and safety

• Seoul (2024) – Expanded discussions to ethics, governance, and societal inclusion

• Paris (2025) – Shifted toward operationalising principles and cooperative frameworks

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shri Prasada reminded participants that “AI is writing the code for humanity in this century,” emphasising the collective responsibility to shape AI in ways that uplift humanity.

He highlighted three immediate priorities for global action:

1. Inclusive access to AI resources

2. Skilling and reskilling for the future workforce

3. Translating principles into measurable, real-world impact

Introducing the 3 Sutras and 7 Chakras of the AI Impact Summit 2026

Shri Prasada unveiled the core framework of the upcoming Summit—the 3 Sutras, representing India’s holistic approach to AI:

• People – Advancing human-centric AI, education, empowerment

• Planet – Leveraging AI for sustainability, climate action, resilience

• Progress – Driving innovation, productivity, and economic growth

These Sutras will be operationalised through seven thematic Working Groups, termed Chakras, each addressing a critical area of global AI collaboration:

1. Human Capital

2. Inclusion for Social Empowerment

3. Safe and Trusted AI

4. Resilience

5. Innovation and Efficiency

6. Science

7. Democratizing AI Resources and AI for Economic Growth & Social Good

Together, the Sutras and Chakras lay out a comprehensive roadmap for actionable progress, ensuring that AI advances both societal well-being and global development goals.

A Summit Focused on Execution, Not Declarations

Announcing the dates for the AI Impact Summit 2026, Shri Prasada affirmed that the New Delhi gathering will prioritise implementation over rhetoric. The Summit aims to deliver tangible outcomes, practical tools, collaborative frameworks, and measurable improvements in the lives of people worldwide.

He extended an open invitation to:

• Governments

• Industry leaders

• Researchers and innovators

• Civil society organisations

• International institutions

Shri Prasada concluded by noting that the true measure of success would not be the number of documents produced, but “the lives it improves.”