Ever since I became a Correspondent in 1974, and then a Foreign Correspondent in 1981, I have witnessed dozens of major international events in India as well as in other countries. They are good for diplomacy, help win friends, grow business and trade, and share technology and strategy.
But the recent visits of Presidents, Prime Ministers, Shaikhs, Royalty, and of our own Prime Minister Narendra Modi to more than 20 countries in 2025 and 2026 are unprecedented. Visits apart, the ongoing AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi has been a welcome spot for some 20 Heads of State and Government, 30-plus Ministers, Top Officers, Top CEOs, and even the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Everyone and each one has praised India and particularly Mr Narendra Modi for hosting the Summit.
Looks like the Prime Minister is in a happy mood to fly on internet waves towards India’s Strategic Vision of sharing Knowledge in Science, Arts, Technologies, and everything that brings and binds humanity together.
Significantly, the AI Summit was jointly inaugurated by Mr Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, the Guest of Honour. After the press of a button at the newly built venue of Bharat Mandapam, Mr Macron called for an ‘AI Together’ Vision for common good, huge investments in data centres powered by nuclear energy, and admired India for its digital revolution by empowering millions of address-less street vendors to sell and buy through UPI, even for very small amounts. It’s true: Indians can actually buy peanuts for a dollar and have them delivered, thanks also to Amazon and some home-grown Delivery Apps.
For Mr Macron, the Summit was an opportunity to meet global tech leaders, some of whom he pointed out were Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) like CEO Sundar Pichai of Google. And Leena Nair, CEO of Chanel perfumes and fashion house in France whom he mentioned among the top international Indians.
While conflicting interests are always there, Good Relations, personally and institutionally help in building and strengthening not only friendships but also business ties without much ado on Trade Tariffs and Give This and Take That.
India has always been a soft power in diplomacy. Institutions like the Indian Council for Cultural Relations for instance have offered scholarships to hundreds of foreign students, mostly from developing countries, and if I recall my student days in the 1970s, also to a few from countries like France, Germany and USA. There was in fact also a Japanese, doing research on Agriculture.
Both Mr Modi and Mr Macron emphasised that AI is a blessing for common good, to empower masses, rather than being the property of a few billionaires.
Nonetheless, nearly all the IT and AI billionaires who have foundationally contributed to this Mass Revolution – if I can call it so – were here at the Summit. About 110 countries, and 500 plus Startups, were taking part in the AI Summit. IT is about today, and appropriately, thousands of Students either assisted in organising the event or took part. There cannot be a better way to absorb knowledge in their Formative Years.
As Data Centres consume huge power, there was a proposal to set them up is Space with the never-ending Solar or Nuclear Energy.
Prime Minister Modi has clearly launched a blitzkrieg of warmth, friendship, mutual economic growth, and sharing the benefits of modern technologies with the world. If Diplomacy is about Winning Friends, the AI Summit is a huge achievement.
India’s Global Moments Are About India’s Confident Assertion.
— Gulshan Rai Luthra
