The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi from February 17-20, marked a pivotal moment for Global South nations in AI discourse. Invited by PM Narendra Modi, Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake used the platform to advocate for humane, inclusive AI that honors cultural diversity and fosters worldwide partnerships.
This inaugural global meeting in the Global South featured top world leaders, UN seniors, organization heads, and tech influencers debating AI governance under the ‘People, Planet, Progress’ banner.
In his February 19 plenary address, Dissanayake insisted AI serve humanity first—upholding cultural values, safeguarding rights, and guaranteeing equal access for all. He highlighted AI as a bridge for economic and cultural synergy, pointing to ongoing worldwide conversations on objectives, protections, and standards.
Dissanayake uniquely emphasized AI’s cultural impact, urging systems to sustain language variety and reflect national legacies. Progress in tech, he argued, must bolster rather than diminish community identities.
He outlined a four-pillar framework for regional AI collaboration: accessible affordability, unified language data resources, common assessment systems, security mechanisms, and collective skill enhancement.
By signing onto the summit declaration, Sri Lanka recommitted to partnering globally for moral, open, citizen-focused AI that drives inclusive, growth-oriented innovation.
Dissanayake’s schedule brimmed with strategic bilaterals. He conferred with UAE’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid on amplifying cooperation in commerce, investments, travel, AI, and nascent industries.
With Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, the duo solidified historic ties, eyeing joint ventures in cultural exchange, learning, youth programs, and healthcare.
France’s Emmanuel Macron joined talks on tech transfers, digital breakthroughs, visitor economies, capital flows, and sea domain partnerships. Gratitude flowed for France’s debt relief aid and cyclone recovery backing, with mutual pledges to continue.
Brazil’s Lula da Silva engaged on South-South synergies, extending a warm invitation to visit.
A session with US envoy Sergio Gor assessed bilateral strengths and plotted new collaborative paths.
Culminating in a February 20 meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House, they appraised advancements from recent high-level exchanges. Priorities included boosting commerce, power, links, digital ties, economic unity, and heritage connections. India earned thanks for post-storm relief and hosting honors.
With participants from more than 100 nations, sessions delved into human potential, social inclusion, trustworthy AI, scientific advances, adaptability, creativity, equitable resource sharing, and AI’s role in prosperity and societal good.
Dissanayake’s vision positions AI as a tool for unity, not division, in a diverse world.