AI Impact Summit 2026 Concludes with Adoption of New Delhi Declaration

The AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi on 18-19 February, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, marking a significant milestone in global cooperation on artificial intelligence.

The Declaration has been endorsed by 88 countries and international organisations, reflecting a broad-based global consensus on leveraging AI for economic growth and social good.

A Shared Global Vision for AI

Guided by the principle of "Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya" (Welfare for all, Happiness for all), the Declaration underscores that the benefits of AI must be equitably shared across humanity.

It emphasizes:

Strengthening international cooperation and multistakeholder engagement
Respecting national sovereignty
Advancing AI through accessible, and trustworthy frameworks
Seven Pillars (Chakras) of Action

The Declaration is structured around seven key pillars, forming the foundation of global AI cooperation:

Democratizing AI Resources
Economic Growth & Social Good
Secure & Trusted AI
AI for Science
Access for Social Empowerment
Human Capital Development
Resilient, Efficient & Innovative AI Systems

Major Global Deliverables Announced

The Summit delivered a series of voluntary, collaborative global initiatives, including:

1. Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI

Promotes affordable access to foundational AI resources
Supports locally relevant innovation ecosystems

2. Global AI Impact Commons

A platform to scale and replicate AI use cases globally
Enables cross-country collaboration for development impact

3. Trusted AI Commons

Repository of tools, benchmarks, and best practices
Supports development of secure and trustworthy AI systems

4. International Network of AI for Science Institutions

Facilitates global scientific collaboration
Enhances AI-driven research capabilities

5. AI for Social Empowerment Platform

Enables knowledge exchange and scalable solutions
Focuses on equitable AI adoption

6. AI Workforce Development Playbook & Reskilling Principles

Supports AI skilling, reskilling, and literacy
Prepares nations for an AI-driven economy

7. Guiding Principles on Resilient & Efficient AI

Focus on energy-efficient AI systems
Supported by a Playbook on AI Infrastructure Resilience

Focus on Economic Growth and Efficiency

The Declaration highlights:
The role of AI in driving economic transformation
Importance of open-source and accessible AI ecosystems
Need for energy-efficient AI infrastructure
Expanding AI's role in science, governance, and public service delivery

Strengthening Global Cooperation

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to:

Advancing shared global priorities in AI governance
Promoting voluntary, non-binding frameworks
Translating vision into action through continued collaboration
The Summit is expected to catalyze long-term international partnerships and position AI as a key driver of economic growth.

The Summit declaration as endorsed by 88 countries and International Organizations is annexed.[Link]

New Delhi
February 21, 2026