NEW DELHI: On 18th February, New Delhi will host a gathering that reflects India’s growing confidence in shaping the global conversation on artificial intelligence. The inaugural NDTV IND.AI Summit, curated in partnership with the Startup Policy Forum, positions AI not merely as a technological tool but as a defining force in governance, business and public life.
The summit arrives at a moment when countries worldwide are wrestling with how to harness AI’s transformative potential whilst safeguarding public trust and social equity. India’s approach—linking innovation to public purpose and global engagement to domestic priorities—will be on full display.
A highlight will be a special session on AI in governance featuring Rishi Sunak, Britain’s former prime minister, who will offer perspectives on how artificial intelligence is reshaping statecraft, administration and economic decision-making. The summit places equal weight on global governance and safety, with Chris Lehane of OpenAI, Stuart Russell of the University of California, Berkeley, and James Manyika of Google examining questions of accountability, risk and international cooperation.
“The IND.AI Summit is about the kind of future we are choosing to build,” said Rahul Kanwal, chief executive and editor-in-chief of NDTV. “India has the scale, the talent and the moral imagination to shape how AI serves society—and this summit is our way of bringing the most credible voices together to define that direction.”
Beyond policy and ethics, the event will examine practical deployment. Hemant Taneja of General Catalyst and other influential investors will discuss how capital, innovation and long-term value creation are being redefined in an AI-led world. Sessions on AI in the workplace, adoption at scale and digital public infrastructure will focus on real-world impact: how artificial intelligence is reshaping productivity, decision-making, job roles and organisational culture.
A segment on AI sovereignty will explore what national autonomy means in an interconnected technological ecosystem, weighing the roles of governments, open-source communities, academia and private enterprise in responsible stewardship.
India’s public digital systems, already serving as models for inclusivity and trust, will feature prominently in discussions about how developing nations can leverage AI without sacrificing equity or sovereignty.
The summit reflects a country increasingly self-assured about its role in contemporary innovation discourse. India is framing AI as integral to its developmental story—one that balances global ambition with domestic imperatives. In New Delhi next week, the question won’t just be about the future of artificial intelligence. It will be about India’s place in shaping it.
