AI Impact Summit: U.K. Deputy PM calls Delhi summit ‘important moment’ to unlock full benefits of AI

The UK’s focus at the AI ​​Impact Summit, which kicks off in New Delhi on Monday, February 16, 2026, will be to champion how AI can accelerate growth, unlock new jobs, improve public services and benefit people around the world, the British government has said.

The UK delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Artificial Intelligence Minister Kanishka Narayan, wants to highlight how AI can improve daily life in every corner of the world and argue that AI is an engine of innovation that can help doctors diagnose faster, teachers personalize learning, councils deliver services in minutes and businesses create a new generation of good jobs.

“This summit is an important moment for us to work with our international partners to identify how we can unlock the full benefits and potential of AI, while implementing robust and fair security standards that protect us all,” Mr Lammy said in a statement ahead of the summit.

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said India and Britain are “natural technology partners” and software giants such as Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro are expanding their operations across the UK

‘Defining the technology of our generation: UK Minister for Artificial Intelligence

“Artificial intelligence is the defining technology of our generation and we are committed to ensuring it serves everyone,” said Mr. Narayan, the first Indian-origin MP from Wales.

“It can cut waiting times, transform public services, create new jobs and give hard-working communities a fresh start – that’s exactly our message to the summit. It’s central to our plans to deliver national regeneration, but its benefits cannot and should not be overlooked by a few,” he said.

The AI ​​minister said the UK was “leading from the front, pushing a global vision of AI that helps people around the world learn more, earn more and shape the future on their own terms”.

“We are completely on the same page about ensuring that the people of Britain and the people of India are building AI and benefiting directly from AI, not just looking at AI built by others,” he said.

Besides Delhi, Mr Narayan will also travel to Bengaluru to explore how India and the UK are working together to reap the benefits of groundbreaking technology.

DSIT said both countries were investing tens of millions in cutting-edge research, from better batteries and next-generation telecommunications for rural communities to genomic medicine that could combat rare diseases.

It has been stated that India is a vitally important market for British businesses overall, with British firms generating more than £47.5 billion in revenue from their business in India.

During the AI ​​Impact Summit this week, the UK is expected to announce new support for an African Language Centre, which will enable AI to work in 40 African languages ​​to make the technology more inclusive and accessible to millions of people.

This will be one of three new initiatives announced as part of the £100 million-plus Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) programme, created to enable developing countries to take full advantage of the AI ​​revolution.

The Asian AI4D Observatory will be dedicated to supporting responsible AI innovation and governance in South and Southeast Asia, and the AI4D Computing Center at the University of Cape Town will give African innovators the computing power they need to bring ideas to life.

The AI ​​Impact Summit in New Delhi has been described as the first international AI meeting of its kind to be held in the Global South, centered around the three Sutras of people, planet and progress as India’s approach to collaboration in this field.

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