AI Impact Summit: 88 countries and international organisations sign declaration

The AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi from February 18 to 19, culminated in the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, endorsed by 88 countries and international organizations. This milestone represents a significant step toward global cooperation on the development and ethical governance of artificial intelligence. The Declaration establishes a shared global vision for AI centered on seven pillars that include fostering resilient, efficient, and innovative AI systems, supporting secure and trustworthy AI, and advancing AI governance with a focus on transparency and inclusivity.

The Declaration also emphasizes the importance of open-source and accessible AI ecosystems, as well as promoting economic growth and social good through AI technologies. It highlights the need for democratizing AI resources, favoring local innovation, and building AI resilience within national legal frameworks. The summit’s leadership, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, framed the outcome as a broad global consensus affirming a human-centric AI vision. This vision promotes equitable access to AI technologies, skill development, and responsible AI deployment, especially addressing challenges faced by the Global South.

As AI infrastructure and capabilities become increasingly concentrated among a few economies and corporations, the Declaration’s focus on inclusive innovation and shared governance aims to mitigate risks associated with unequal access and control over AI resources worldwide.