New Delhi: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has backed India as the ideal host for the first-ever Artificial Intelligence Summit in the Global South, underscoring the country’s growing role in shaping the future of emerging technologies.
Speaking to a private news agency ahead of the AI Impact Summit 2026, which begins today, Guterres stressed that artificial intelligence must benefit the entire world rather than remain concentrated in a few powerful nations. He emphasized the need for inclusive and responsible AI development that bridges global divides.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has outlined an ambitious agenda for the summit in New Delhi. The British government said its focus will be on demonstrating how artificial intelligence can accelerate economic growth, generate new employment opportunities, strengthen public services and deliver tangible benefits worldwide.
The UK delegation—led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy along with AI Minister Kanishka Narayan—is expected to spotlight practical AI applications that can transform everyday life. British officials are set to project AI as a powerful engine of renewal, capable of enabling faster medical diagnoses, personalized education, quicker civic service delivery and the creation of next-generation quality jobs.
With major global players converging in the national capital, the AI Impact Summit 2026 is being viewed as a significant platform for shaping an inclusive and human-centric AI future led by the Global South.
