AI Summit India 2026 Live Updates | PM Modi Inaugurates India AI Impact Expo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the India AI Impact Expo. He also interacted with startups participating in the expo. The prime minister visited various stalls and spoke with the companies participating in the expo. Expo features over 600 high-potential startups and 13 country pavilions showcasing international collaboration in AI ecosystem. Expo brings together global technology firms, startups, academia and research institutions, central and state governments, and international partners.

Ottonomy Inc unveiled its end-to-end autonomous delivery ecosystem at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, spotlighting how Made-in-India robotics and AI are reshaping logistics across healthcare, industrial campuses, and urban environments.

The ecosystem integrates Ottonomy's Level-4 autonomous delivery robots, 'Ottobots', with smart storage infrastructure 'Arrive Points' from Arrive AI and drone logistics capabilities from Skyeair Mobility, Ottonomy said in a statement.

The combined platform "enables seamless, unattended movement of goods across indoor and outdoor environments without manual intervention", it added.

Made-in-India Ottobots are Level-4 autonomous robots capable of navigating complex real-world environments, including hospital corridors, elevators, sidewalks and service roads. The robots use an AI-driven autonomy stack to understand their surroundings, adapt to changing conditions and make real-time decisions.

"With Ottobots and Arrive Points, we're proving that Made-in-India robots can power world-class automation in US hospitals and global industrial sites," said Ritukar Vijay, CEO and founder of Ottonomy Inc.

Against the backdrop of the AI Summit underway in Delhi, experts have stressed that India should maintain innovation speed without copying the European Union's regulation-heavy model or the United States' market-driven approach.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Golok Kumar Simli, former CTO Passport Seva Programme, said, "India can truly chart a path built on four strategic layers - Chips, Cloud, AI, and Knowledge that I fondly term as a ‘Sovereignty Pyramid."

India AI Impact Summit 2026: India Must Build Sovereign AI Path, Not Copy EU Or US, Say Experts

Misinformation generated through artificial intelligence has the power to undermine democratic systems, and AI has the power to change people's minds in the wrong fashion, Union Minister of State for Information Technology Jitin Prasada said on Monday as he urged caution in the use of AI tools.

Prasada was speaking at a session in the AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital. He said AI can significantly enhance learning for students and teachers, but it must not be treated as a shortcut that weakens critical thinking or curiosity.

"If you don't get into digital literacy, then you have the vulnerability of falling to cyber threats. Cybersecurity is such a big issue, and AI deep fakes misinformation. And a country like India, which is truly democratic, and elections are happening all around the year, be it at the central level, state or municipality. But if there's kind of misinformation using AI, it has the power to derail democracies.

"It has the power to change people's minds in the wrong fashion, and once a decision has been taken, as far as the vote goes, it could be so counterproductive, because you people have voted on false information. So the government and we have that challenge as well," he said. Read More...

The central government is looking to provide access to e-books and AI resources to medical students to help them hone their skills better, with the first phase of the initiative covering around 57 medical colleges in the smaller towns and rural areas, according to a senior Health Ministry official.

Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Deputy Director General (Medical Education) B Srinivas stated that students from medical colleges in remote areas find it challenging to access e-books and good technical materials, including this AI material.

"So the government is thinking of using the leverage of AI to reach out to these students... In the National Medical Library, we have started the process of securing the e-books and the digital clinical material, and we are doing it right now in around 57 government medical colleges across the country," Srinivas said. The government is looking to scale up the initiative in a gradual manner, he added.

Commuters at several parts of the national capital on Monday reported traffic congestion and travel delays, with enhanced security arrangements and traffic diversions coming into force for the five-day AI Impact Summit at the Bharat Mandapam.

Long queues of vehicles and near-zero movement were reported on key arterial routes and transport hubs, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway near Sarai Kale Khan, the DND Flyway, the Vikas Marg-ITO stretch, Naraina, the Delhi Cantt Metro station area, and the Old Delhi Railway Station-Pul Mithai corridor.

India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi from February 16-20 at the Bharat Mandapam, which is expected to draw delegates from more than 30 countries, including ministers, senior officials, foreign representatives and members of international organisations. Several commuters reported being stuck in traffic for more than half an hour, with many raising concerns over fuel wastage and productivity loss.

“Such a waste of time and fuel. People of Delhi expect better traffic management. We have been stuck for the last 15 minutes and more to go,” a commuter said. Another commuter from east Delhi’s Ashok Nagar said traffic came to a standstill for more than 20 minutes, linking the situation to the ongoing development work and restrictions linked to the AI summit.

“Traffic everywhere, smoke and congestion… People can’t even step out smoothly,” the commuter said. One commuter reported heavy traffic and zero vehicular movement on both sides of the Old Delhi railway station.

Delhi Police has deployed more than 10,000 personnel across the city, with nearly 5,000 traffic staff managing vehicular movement, diversions and VIP routes. Traffic movement is currently regulated on several key stretches, including Mathura Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Janpath, Akbar Road, Shanti Path and Bhairon Marg. The authorities said a coordination cell is monitoring traffic flow, intelligence inputs and emergency response, while ambulances have been stationed along the designated VVIP corridors. Police have also issued advisories, urging commuters to plan their travel and keep buffer time during peak hours. (PTI)

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has extended its 'UPI One World' wallet service to international delegates attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026. This pilot initiative is available to visitors from 45 countries participating in the summit held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 16-20 February.

The service allows inbound foreign travellers to perform real-time Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions across India without requiring a local bank account or an Indian mobile number.

Sohini Rajola, Executive Director - Growth, NPCI, said, "UPI is the world's largest real-time payment system. By extending the 'UPI One World' service to foreign guests at the India AI Impact Summit, we are providing a convenient way to experience India's real-time payments ecosystem and Made in India technology. This initiative also offers a glimpse into how smoother cross-border payment systems can support a more connected global digital economy."

The wallet can be accessed through authorised issuers at New Delhi International Airport and the NPCI Pavilion at the summit venue. Travellers can load the wallet using international debit or credit cards and make payments by scanning standard UPI QR codes. The system allows for a maximum loading of Rs 25,000 per transaction, with a monthly limit of Rs 50,000. Any remaining balance at the end of the visit can be transferred back to the original payment source in accordance with foreign exchange regulations.

This rollout follows a period of significant growth for the platform, with UPI processing 21.70 billion transactions in January 2026. By integrating this technology into the India AI Impact Summit, NPCI aims to showcase India's digital public infrastructure to a global audience of policymakers and technology leaders. The initiative is designed to eliminate the need for carrying physical cash and to simplify the complexities of foreign exchange for international visitors. (ANI)

Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok on Monday said AI models are expected to witness exponential growth in the next three years and the world is "ready" to adopt them.

Speaking at the AI for Disaster Management: Anticipatory, Hyperlocal, Scalable session during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which began at the national capital on Monday, Chandok highlighted that the growth of AI models in recent months demonstrates how rapidly the technology is evolving.

"The models you have seen today, it's incredible and we are growing on. With AI, we have potentially the ability to grow and move on, and now the world is changing and ready to adopt it," he said.

On concerns about job displacement, Chandok argued that AI would reshape rather than eliminate employment. "AI - it will not kill jobs, but will unbundle jobs. AI will end the charade. You and I have to bundle ourselves. If you are not learning AI today, you are not learning anything," he stated. Read More...

The AI Summit India 2026 is underway in the national capital. The five-day event (February 16 and February 20) aims to create a platform where influential technology leaders and AI innovators from around the globe can come together and discuss the future of AI. CEOs of top tech and AI companies, along with world leaders and ministerial delegations from over 45 countries are participating in this mega event.

If you are planning to attend, you need to register for the AI Summit via the official website or app.

Read On | India AI Impact Summit 2026 How To Register For The Event

There is a lot of scope for AI integration in the road and transport industry to help avoid accidents and check issues of vehicular pollution, a government official said on Monday.

Measures such as a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system and adding driving-in-school curriculum can help in this direction, Pankaj Aggarwal, an officer in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, said while speaking at the India AI Impact Summit in the national capital.

During a panel discussion on 'AI for Road Safety: Data-Driven Solutions for Enhancing Road Safety in India', he said AI can play a big role in avoiding accidents and reducing fatalities.

Data indicates that speeding is the first problem among traffic rule violations, he said. So, capturing proper data with the help of AI and providing the same evidence without human intervention can be of help as whatever data today is recorded by a police person is "not the actual data as there are many other offences which contribute to the accident..."

"...With that intention if some technology is there if he (driver) can correct himself before any collision (through) vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology... there is a lot of scope for AI," the official said. In case of challans also, enforcement is an issue, Aggarwal said.

Further, AI can help maintain correct data when it comes to accidents and fatalities, he said, citing the example of Bihar where he said data shows fatalities are higher than the national average. On pollution, Aggarwal said, "We are developing an AI tool for that also because the environment is a major concern in the urban centres." How to control pollution is also an area where the government is actively taking steps as data can be misled here.

He also mooted an idea of having driving as part of school curriculum through AI as it can create awareness among the youth. "IIT Madras is working on it so that it should be mandated as part of the curriculum," he stated. (PTI)

Vice-President of India C P Radhakrishnan on Monday said AI must remain human-centric and guided by responsibility, as he wished success for the India AI Impact Summit that commenced in Delhi today.

In a post on X, the V-P said India stands at the forefront of efforts to shape a people-first, democratic AI future, which is reflected in the Summit’s theme, ‘Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya’ as well.

"By placing public good, accessibility, and global cooperation at the heart of AI’s evolution, India seeks to connect the technological strengths of the Global North with the scale and potential of the Global South, driving inclusive and shared progress worldwide. As Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji had said during the AI Action Summit in Paris last year, “Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans.” Thus AI must remain human-centric and guided by responsibility. I wish the India AI Impact Summit grand success," the V-P said.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates arrived in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday ahead of attending the AI-India Impact summit in Delhi. Andhra Pradesh Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Nara Lokesh received Gates at the Airport and expressed optimism about future collaborations.

From the airport, Gates proceeded to the Secretariat, where CM Naidu welcomed him and introduced him to members of the state Cabinet.

Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, on Monday said Artificial Intelligence models are improving at an unprecedented pace and predicted exponential growth in the sector over the next three years.

Speaking at the "AI for Disaster Management: Anticipatory, Hyperlocal, Scalable" session of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital, Chandok said the rapid advancements witnessed in recent months demonstrate how quickly the technology is evolving. "The models you have seen today, it's incredible and we are growing on. With AI, we have potentially the ability to grow and move on, and now the world is changing and ready to adopt it," he said.

On whether AI systems are truly improving, Chandok asserted that progress is clearly visible. "There is still debate on whether we are getting better with AI or not. I believe models are definitely getting better. You can see the change in the last six months. What you have seen today is remarkable. In the next three years, there are thousand X coming in the AI sector," he said.

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Monday issued a passenger advisory ahead of the India AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam, warning travellers of possible traffic congestion and delays to and from the airport, and advised using the metro for convenient access.

In a post on X, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) advised passengers to plan their journeys in advance due to major events in the national capital that could disrupt road traffic. "In view of major events in Delhi that may impact travel to and from the airport, travellers are advised to plan their journey accordingly and consider alternative public transport options," the advisory read.

Passengers were advised to use the Delhi Metro to avoid inconvenience. The airport operator recommended the Magenta Line for access to Terminal 1 and the Airport Express Line for Terminals 2 and 3 or other available services to avoid inconvenience. "Thank you for your understanding and cooperation," the advisory further read.

The national capital braces for heightened security deployment and extensive traffic restrictions as the five-day AI Impact Summit begins today. Here are some of the steps authorities are taking in Delhi to manage VIP movement while ensuring minimal disruption to commuters and students appearing for board examinations.

• More than 10,000 police personnel, including district units, specialised teams, traffic staff and reserve forces, have been deployed in and around Bharat Mandapam, the summit venue, and across key locations in the national capital to ensure robust security.
• Access to the venue will remain strictly regulated through QR code-based accreditation, while a dedicated coordination cell has been set up to oversee intelligence sharing, traffic regulation, route planning and real-time response during the summit period.
• Traffic management will remain a major focus area, with nearly 5,000 traffic personnel deployed to regulate vehicular movement and manage diversions, officials said, adding that several ambulances will remain stationed along VVIP routes for emergency response.
• Authorities have also issued a detailed traffic advisory as the summit coincides with the commencement of the CBSE board examinations from February 17. Police personnel across districts have been sensitised to assist students travelling to examination centres, while special traffic arrangements have been made for schools located along VIP movement routes.
• Traffic movement is likely to remain restricted or regulated on several key roads in the New Delhi district and adjoining areas, including stretches around Mathura Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Janpath, Akbar Road and Shanti Path, among others.
• Movement on Bhairon Marg and parts of Mathura Road may face temporary restrictions during summit-related route movements, while alternate routes and corridors have been earmarked to facilitate general traffic.
• Metro services will continue to operate normally, though buses and taxis may face diversions during VIP movement. Police have urged commuters to plan travel in advance, keep buffer time during peak hours and follow updates issued through official advisories and social media channels.

The UK's focus during the AI Impact Summit starting in New Delhi on Monday will be on championing how artificial intelligence can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs, improve public services and deliver benefits for people across the globe, the British government has said.

Led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, the UK delegation is keen to highlight how AI can improve everyday life in every corner of the world and make the case for AI as an engine of renewal that can help doctors diagnose faster, teachers personalise learning, councils deliver services in minutes and businesses create the next generation of good jobs. Read More...

Welcoming world and tech leaders to the AI Summit India 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday the Summit will "enrich" global discourse on diverse aspects of AI. He also exuded confidence that the Summit outcomes will help shape a future that is progressive, innovative and opportunity-driven.

"Thanks to the 1.4 billion people of India, our nation stands at the forefront of the AI transformation. From digital public infrastructure to a vibrant StartUp ecosystem and cutting-edge research, our strides in AI reflect both ambition and responsibility," PM Modi said in a thread of posts on X.