UN Chief Guterres Praises India as AI Summit Host

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has endorsed India as the ideal host for the first major AI summit in the Global South. He called the India AI Impact Summit 2026, starting February 16 in New Delhi, a key chance to shape global AI rules. Guterres praised India’s leadership in tackling AI challenges. In interviews, he said India, as a successful emerging economy, has a growing influence in world affairs. This makes it perfect for deep talks on AI’s potential and risks. He stressed AI must benefit everyone, not just rich nations or two superpowers like the US and China. “It would be totally unacceptable if AI remains a privilege for developed countries,”
Guterres told PTI. He wants AI as a tool for all humankind.
Guterres will attend the summit from February 16-20 at Bharat Mandapam. Joined by UN
leaders like High Commissioner Volker Türk and tech envoy Amandeep Singh Gill, he aims
to push for shared guardrails and innovation for the common good. The summit follows
principles of People, Planet, and Progress. It gathers leaders, tech firms, and civil society to
align with the UN’s Global Digital Compact. Focus areas include Sustainable Development
Goals, human rights, and risks. This builds on recent India AI moves, like governance guidelines. Guterres sees it advancing capacity in developing nations. He links it to a new UN AI scientific panel with Indian experts like IIT Madras’ Balaraman Ravindran. India’s event marks a shift. As the first big Global South AI summit, it ensures voices from emerging markets shape tech’s future. Guterres congratulated PM Modi for leading on inclusive AI.