India AI Summit 2026: Amitabh Kant highlights India's expanding role in global AI data contribution

India AI Impact 2026: Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog, discussed about the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our daily lives and its influence across all fields. According to him, AI must grow based on three fundamental principles: accessibility, affordability and accountability.

AI’s potential and the need for inclusive governance

Addressing the India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Kant said that AI holds tremendous potential and poses substantial risks. Kant stressed that without a proper framework of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), AI could create unequal differences within society if not managed properly. He emphasised that technology should benefit all, not just powerful companies or countries.

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What is DPI?

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is a fundamental digital system that provides essential components for contemporary societies, including people, businesses, and governments, to interact securely, efficiently and reliably in today's digital world.
• In simple terms, DPI enables people to verify their identities and open bank accounts while providing fast and reliable digital payment services and creating secure platforms for government agencies to exchange data.

India and the Global South are driving AI development

India and other countries in the Global South play a dynamic role in the development of AI. Large Language Models (LLMs) that support platforms like ChatGPT are trained on vast amounts of data from India and other developing countries.

India alone contributes 33 per cent of this data, more than the United States does. Countries providing data should have equal rights to access the benefits and advancements of AI, said Kant.

He also emphasised that AI should not remain limited to English-language systems, but rather welcome multilingual systems that work smoothly to deliver its complete potential to global users.

Balancing social goals and corporate interests

The AI system needs to balance its mission to solve real-life problems with the need to generate profits for major technology companies.

AI has the potential to advance medical services, with educational systems, agricultural practices and various local community sectors. The aim of AI should be to enhance human existence through its applications across developing nations rather than evaluating the financial results of large technology companies.

Historical lessons on economic inequality

Kant stated that historical evidence proves economic growth does not necessarily create social equality. He also explained that post-World War II Western economies experienced wealth distribution problems as rich people gained control over most resources.

The ongoing AI investment practices, which benefit only a restricted segment of the population, will result in a society with extreme social division.

Kant concluded that AI technology will create social inequality as people fail to use technology according to ethical standards. The ultimate goal must be social transformation and empowerment of citizens, particularly in the Global South, said Kant.

Transformational potential of AI

Kant explained through his message that AI possesses transformational power to create major changes that need responsible management. AI will become a force for equality and development through proper policies, together with inclusive digital infrastructure.