86 Nations Back Delhi Declaration on AI, But Deep Divides Over Governance Remain
25 Sources
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Global leaders endorse Delhi Declaration on safe and responsible AI
Eighty-six countries and two international organisations have endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence (AI), aimed at building an inclusive, human-centric and development-oriented global AI framework. The consensus is being seen alongside nuanced debates during the India AI
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India's Big AI Moment Starts on Chaotic Note as Modi Arrives
Despite the disruption, attendees and speakers expressed optimism about the summit, with some highlighting the significance of India's AI ascendancy and the potential for long-term collaborations and partnerships. India's biggest business summit in years descended into chaos this week after
[3]
India's AI summit: Delegates complain of long queues and confusion on opening day
India's AI Impact Summit, billed as a landmark gathering of global leaders and technology executives, was overshadowed by logistical chaos on its opening day in Delhi on Monday. Participants complained about long queues, overcrowding and confusion at the venue, saying they had to wait for hours.
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AI Impact Summit 2026 revealed the gap between ambition and enforceable governance
Nearly 90 countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on AI. The document binds none of them. That tension defined the AI Impact Summit 2026, held from Feb 16-20. Framed as the largest AI gathering of its kind in the Global South, the summit positioned India as a convenor of a development-first
[5]
Global summit calls for 'secure, trustworthy and robust AI'
New Delhi (AFP) - Dozens of nations including the United States and China called for "secure, trustworthy and robust" artificial intelligence, in a declaration issued Saturday after a major summit on the technology in New Delhi. The statement signed by 86 countries did not include concrete
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US endorses AI declaration without binding rules
The U.S. signed onto a non-binding declaration Saturday with dozens of other countries following India's AI Impact Summit, committing to a "shared global vision" on the technology. It was one of 89 countries and organizations to sign the document, which laid out seven key pillars for AI
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Ashwini Vaishnaw Says AI Is the 5th Industrial Revolution
India will create a UPI-like platform for bouquet of AI services On the second day of the country's inaugural AI Impact Summit, the Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology (IT), Ashwini Vaishnaw, spoke about artificial intelligence (AI), India's global standing in this technology,
[8]
Delhi Declaration Urges Democratic AI for Social Good
The India AI Impact Summit concluded on Saturday with more than 80 countries signing the Delhi Declaration, pledging to balance advances in artificial intelligence with a commitment to equitable growth and ethical standards. "This calls for further international cooperation and multi-stakeholder
[9]
India calls for democratic diffusion of AI at New Delhi summit
India has released the AI Impact Summit Declaration, a voluntary global framework for AI cooperation inspired by "welfare for all." The declaration, endorsed by multiple nations, outlines seven pillars for collaboration, including human capital development, trustworthy AI, and democratising AI
[10]
India AI Impact Summit 2026 Sets New Global Benchmark as World Leaders Converge at Bharat Mandapam
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced today at Bharat Mandapam, marking the first time that a global convening of this scale on artificial intelligence is being organised in the Global South. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced today at Bharat Mandapam, marking the first time that a
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India Cautions About Deepfake Tech Risks, Highlights Stronger Regulation
The minister was speaking to the media about India's plans to take pole position in the growing global AI ecosystem India is aware of the rising risks posed by deepfake technology and is committed to creating a stronger regulation around deepfakes to counter what is becoming a problem that is
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86 nations, two international organisations sign AI Impact Summit declaration: IT Min Vaishnaw
New Delhi: As many as 86 countries and two international organisations have signed the AI Impact Summit declaration, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said, adding that the US, UK, Canada, China, Denmark, and Germany are among the signatories. The strong global backing for the declaration
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89 Nations Sign AI Impact Summit Declaration, But Can It Deliver?
MediaNama's Take: The AI Impact Summit Declaration matters as an early, multilateral statement of shared principles, and it notably attracted 89 signatories of states and organisations. However, the declaration's voluntary, non-binding character severely limits its ability to deliver concrete
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India AI Summit secures over $250 billion infra investment commitments: Ashwini Vaishnaw
India AI Impact Summit 2026 secured over $250 billion in investment commitments for AI infrastructure, including data centers and semiconductor facilities. Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the upcoming AI Mission 2.0, focusing on advanced models and safety. The government aims to ensure
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AI Summit: Aswini Vaishnaw unveils 'New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments'
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments. This voluntary framework involves global AI companies and Indian innovators. It aims for inclusive and responsible artificial intelligence development. The initiative focuses on understanding real-world AI
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Global AI summit in India still without final statement - VnExpress International
Dozens of national delegations, including leaders from France, Brazil and other countries, had gathered in the Indian capital this week to discuss the fast-developing technology. On Friday, India's IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said there was "huge consensus on the declaration", the details of
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AI Summit: Ashwini Vaishnaw lays out five-layer strategy to power inclusive growth
New Delhi: The AI-India Impact summit on Thursday witnessed the welcome of high profile heads of state by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at the summit, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday outlined India's comprehensive five-layer artificial intelligence strategy at the first global AI
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India focused on practical applications of AI to solve population-scale challenges: Vaishnaw
Speaking at a research symposium at the AI Impact Summit, the minister also expressed happiness over the strong participation and optimism shown by young people at an AI Expo on Tuesday. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said India is focused on practical applications of AI, including
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AI Impact Summit 2026 showcases India's push for real-world deployment
India's AI future is unfolding at the AI Impact Summit 2026. The event highlights AI embedded in everyday technology, moving beyond cloud-based concepts. Drones, wearables, and robots are demonstrating practical applications. Global and Indian companies are showcasing innovations. India's AI
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AI Summit 2026: India's Strategic Push in the Global AI Economy
Conceived as a platform to shape the future of AI around inclusivity, responsibility, and real-world impact, the summit has drawn over 20 heads of state, 60 ministers, and hundreds of global business leaders, ranging from established tech giants to ambitious startups, to discuss AI's trajectory,
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India AI Summit in New Delhi marred by logistics issues on Day 1 fiasco panned on social media - The Economic Times
The five-day summit, which is ongoing at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, kicked off on February 16 amid high expectations, with addresses by global tech leaders and Indian startups slated for the coming days.The India AI Impact Summit, touted as a gathering of top minds in artificial intelligence
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India AI Impact Summit 2026 Day 2 begins at Bharat Mandapam: PM Modi leads global push on responsible and inclusive AI
Day 2 of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 has commenced in New Delhi with renewed momentum, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and global leaders intensify conversations on responsible AI, inclusive growth and cross-border governance frameworks. With high-level sessions, policy roundtables and sectoral
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India is democratising AI, technology: CPRG director Ramanand at AI Impact Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, underscoring India's commitment to responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence. Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) Director Dr Ramanand on Tuesday
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India AI Impact Summit 2026: IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reveals 5-layer roadmap to make India an AI superpower
Indigenous AI initiatives like BharatGen and Bhashini aim to power large-scale applications in healthcare, agriculture, and education. Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw has laid out the five-layered sovereign AI stack at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. This aims to position
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India AI Impact Summit 2026: From Day 1 disruption apology to AI Ka UPI, key statements made by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Government pushes for tighter deepfake rules, age-based safeguards on platforms like X and Meta, while apologising for first-day summit mismanagement. Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw talked about a few things including the AI roadmap at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. During his speech, he
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Eighty-six countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration at India's AI Impact Summit, calling for secure, trustworthy and robust AI. But the non-binding agreement masks fundamental disagreements: the United States rejected global AI governance, small nations highlighted unequal access to technology, and Serbia warned that AI infrastructure is inherently political.
86 Countries Endorse Non-Binding AI Declaration
Eighty-six countries and two international organizations endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence at India's AI Impact Summit, held from February 16-21, 2026
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. The agreement calls for "secure, trustworthy and robust AI" that prioritizes human-centric AI development, expands benefits to developing economies, and strengthens public-interest applications in healthcare and education5
. Major signatories include the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Russia, Japan, and Australia1
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Source: ET
India's minister for electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, framed the declaration as proof of "broad global support" for responsible AI that tackles algorithmic bias, cybersecurity risks, workforce disruption, and societal impact
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. The document represents the largest consensus on AI principles to date—far exceeding the 28 signatories at Bletchley Park in 2023 or the 11 at the AI Seoul Summit4
. Yet the declaration contains no concrete commitments or enforcement mechanisms, instead highlighting voluntary, non-binding initiatives5
.
Source: CXOToday
United States Rejects Global AI Governance
Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, made clear the United States opposes centralized oversight. "We totally reject global governance of AI," Kratsios said during the summit, emphasizing instead "sovereign AI capability" and arguing that AI should advance through trade and partnership rather than supranational regulatory structures
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. American AI, he declared, is "open for business" and would prioritize "trade over aid"1
.The United States signed a bilateral declaration with India pledging to "pursue a global approach to AI that is unapologetically friendly to entrepreneurship and innovation"
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. This stance reveals fundamental tensions within the global AI framework: while the New Delhi Declaration stresses cooperative guardrails, Washington's emphasis on national capacity and strategic partnerships illustrates limitations in achieving harmonized international collaborations1
.Small Nations Highlight Unequal Access and Data Sovereignty
Prime Minister of Mauritius Navin Ramgoolam warned that countries outside major blocs lack financing tools such as concessionary loans or subsidies and have limited access to capital for research and development. "Without external partnerships, smaller states do not have the capacity to invest in the R and D that is required," he said
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. The Vice-President of Seychelles, Sebastien Pillay, emphasized that small states possess "human capital" and want AI to strengthen government efficiency, economic diversification, and food security—but realizing those ambitions requires sustained technology transfer and legal readiness, not just diplomatic language1
.Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić sharpened the geopolitical dimension by arguing that AI infrastructure is inherently political. He warned of an "unprecedented concentration of technological power" and questioned whether a small number of actors would set the rules for everyone else. "Sovereignty in the 21st Century includes the ability to control data, regulate algorithms, and develop domestic expertise," Vučić said
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. His comments underscore concerns about data sovereignty that resonate across the Global South.Related Stories
Summit Marred by Logistical Chaos
The AI Summit drew more than 250,000 registrations and featured appearances by tech leaders including Sam Altman of OpenAI and Sundar Pichai of Alphabet
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. But the opening day descended into chaos when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security detail sealed the entire Bharat Mandapam complex, leaving hundreds of delegates stranded for hours without food or water . Participants complained about long queues, overcrowding, and confusion3
. Dhananjay Yadav, founder of wearable AI start-up NeoSapiens, alleged that products from his company's stall were stolen inside the high-security zone3
.
Source: ET
Despite operational lapses, attendees expressed optimism about India's role in shaping AI development. Philippe Wieczorek of an AI research institute at Université Grenoble Alpes said he's looking at India as a potential partner for AI and sovereignty, noting that under US President Donald Trump, the United States is not a reliable partner for data sharing. "Coming to India is about building long-term collaborations and partnerships," he said .
What Comes Next for AI Safety Risks
Computing expert Stuart Russell told AFP that the commitments were "not completely inconsequential" but emphasized that countries should "build on these voluntary agreements to develop binding legal commitments to protect their peoples so that AI development and deployment can proceed without imposing unacceptable risks"
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. The next AI summit will take place in Geneva in 2027, while a UN panel on AI will begin work toward "science-led governance"5
.India used the summit to advance its ambition to compete with the United States and China in AI, with Delhi expecting more than $200 billion in investments over the next two years
5
. The gap between diplomatic consensus and enforceable action remains wide, but the summit succeeded in centering concerns of developing nations in global AI governance debates.References
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