India hosted the landmark AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on February 19, marking the first major global AI event in the Global South. Held at Bharat Mandapam, the summit drew heads of state, policymakers, and tech executives to focus on scaling AI for societal benefits.

Key Fireside Insights

Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei highlighted the shift from AI development to diffusion during their session. Nilekani stressed that reaching a billion users demands institutions, policy, trust, and execution beyond engineering, drawing from India's Aadhaar and UPI successes. Amodei noted India's 5.8% share of Claude AI's global usage, positioning it as a pivotal market.

Diffusion Pathways Initiative

A major announcement was the "100 Diffusion Pathways by 2030" coalition, uniting Anthropic, Google, the Gates Foundation, and UNDP. These open playbooks integrate technical safeguards, policy, and coordination for safe, large-scale AI rollout. Amodei emphasized that even current AI tech could transform economies if adoption frictions ease.

Enterprise Partnership Launch

Infosys and Anthropic revealed a collaboration embedding Claude models into Infosys' Topaz platform, starting with telecom and expanding to finance, manufacturing, and software. Nilekani urged broad AI benefits across agriculture, healthcare, and education to prevent backlash and ensure inclusivity.

PM Modi's Vision

Inaugurating the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraced AI optimism. "While some see fear in AI, others see the future. I can say with utmost pride that India finds its future in Artificial Intelligence," he declared, aligning with India's IndiaAI Mission for ethical, accessible innovation.