The fourth annual AI Impact Summit concluded in Delhi on Saturday with a broad declaration signed by 86 nations, including previous holdout the United States and technological rival China. The joint statement advocated for ‘secure, trustworthy and robust’ artificial intelligence but stopped short of establishing any binding regulatory frameworks or concrete commitments.
Attended by tens of thousands of participants, including top technology executives, the five-day summit marked the first gathering hosted by a developing nation. The declaration acknowledged generative AI as ‘an inflection point in technological evolution’ and emphasized that AI’s promise is best realized ‘only when its benefits are shared by humanity.’
Despite the wide endorsement, the summit faced significant criticism from analysts and advocacy groups. Amba Kak, co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, dismissed the declaration as ‘another round of generic voluntary promises’ that primarily served industry interests rather than public protection.
The statement addressed several critical areas including AI safety risks, job displacement concerns, and the technology’s substantial energy consumption. It emphasized reskilling initiatives for workers and developing energy-efficient AI systems, but provided no specific mandates or timelines for implementation.
The event was not without its controversies and organizational challenges. US delegation head Michael Kratsios explicitly rejected global AI governance prior to the signing, stating America’s approach would remain ‘unapologetically friendly to entrepreneurship and innovation.’ The summit also produced viral moments, notably the awkward refusal of rival CEOs Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Dario Amodei (Anthropic) to hold hands on stage.
Looking forward, the UN will establish an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence to work toward ‘science-led governance,’ while the next AI summit is scheduled for Geneva in 2027. India leveraged the event to announce over $200 billion in expected AI investments, positioning itself to compete with established technological superpowers.