India the right place for global AI summit, says UN Chief Guterres

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has hailed India as a “very successful” emerging economy and the ideal host for the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, underscoring the country’s growing global influence and its role in ensuring artificial intelligence benefits the entire world, especially the Global South.

India’s rising stature on the global stage makes it the “right place” to host the world’s first major AI summit in the Global South, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said ahead of his visit to New Delhi for the high-level event scheduled from February 16 to 20.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with PTI at the UN Headquarters, Guterres strongly congratulated India for organising the summit and stressed that artificial intelligence must not remain the privilege of a few developed nations or be dominated by two superpowers.

“It is absolutely essential that AI becomes a universal instrument for the benefit of humankind,” he said, adding that countries in the Global South must be active participants in shaping and benefiting from AI technologies.

India’s Global Role and AI Leadership

Guterres highlighted that India’s expanding economic strength and diplomatic influence place it at the centre of global discussions on emerging technologies. Anchored in the principles of People, Planet and Progress, the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 aims to balance AI’s vast potential with its risks, while promoting inclusive and sustainable development.

The UN chief noted that India’s leadership is especially important at a time when the world must avoid both single-power dominance and a rigid bipolar order.

Global Participation and High-Level Engagement

The summit will bring together world leaders, policymakers, and technology pioneers, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and global tech leaders such as Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. Senior UN officials, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Envoy on Technology, will also participate.

Guterres recalled his recent interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, saying he looks forward to deeper discussions on India’s role in shaping a truly multipolar world.

Advocating Multipolarity and Reform

Reiterating his strong advocacy for multipolarity, Guterres emphasised the need for emerging economies like India to have a stronger voice in global governance, including reforms of the UN Security Council and international financial institutions. He described India as central to building networks of trade, technology, and international cooperation that reflect today’s realities.

Calling India a democracy of immense diversity with a profound civilisational legacy, Guterres said he remains optimistic about the country’s ability to influence global transformation in the years ahead.