Delhi’s AI Summit Signals a Global Shift — But Will It Make Artificial Intelligence Safer?

For long, the most influential conversations around artificial intelligence have been led by Western nations and corporations. This week, however, the spotlight shifts to the Global South as leaders, along with representatives from industry, academia, and civil society, gather in Delhi for the AI Impact Summit.

The summit marks a turning point. Instead of being anchored in Washington, London, or Paris, one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies is hosting a major global dialogue on AI governance. For many, this signals recognition that the future of artificial intelligence cannot be shaped solely by advanced economies especially when much of the world remains underrepresented in both its development and deployment. Yet, a critical question persists: will this shift in geography translate into meaningful progress on making artificial intelligence safer and more inclusive?

The Paradox of India’s AI Engagement: Builder but Not Beneficiary

India occupies a unique position in the global AI ecosystem. Cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai have emerged as major technology hubs, driven by investments from global giants like Google, Nvidia, and Amazon.

Yet, India’s role in the AI value chain often remains underappreciated. A significant share of its workforce is engaged in labour-intensive functions such as data labelling, content moderation, and training data support. While these tasks are essential for the functioning of advanced AI systems, they do not yield proportional economic returns.

Journalist Karen Hao, in her reporting on the global artificial intelligence supply chain, has highlighted the psychological and economic costs borne by such workers. Their contributions underpin systems developed by companies like OpenAI, even as the bulk of economic value accrues elsewhere.

The Access Gap: Language, Infrastructure, and Adoption

Another key issue raised at the summit is access. AI adoption varies significantly across regions. In many developed economies, AI tools are part of everyday life. In contrast, adoption remains limited across large parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Language remains a major barrier. India alone has dozens of widely spoken languages and hundreds of dialects, yet most mainstream artificial intelligence systems support only a handful. According to Pushpak Bhattacharyya of IIT Bombay, the lack of local language support risks excluding millions from the digital transformation, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare, and governance.

To address this, India has launched national initiatives to build indigenous AI capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign platforms. However, the scale of investment still pales in comparison to that of global corporations and state-backed programmes in the US and China, including firms like DeepSeek and ByteDance.

The summit is not merely about technology, it is also about power and influence. Who sets the rules for AI governance remains a central question.

A broader Global South perspective views artificial intelligence as a tool for economic development and digital sovereignty rather than purely as a strategic or military asset. Academic Gina Neff of Queen Mary University of London suggests that this could dilute the dominance of traditional Western blocs and encourage more people-centric governance frameworks.

At the same time, concerns about corporate dominance persist. Data rights advocate Jeni Tennison of Connected by Data has emphasised the need for democratic oversight of AI systems. Transparency is another critical issue. Amanda Brock of OpenUK argues that greater openness is essential for countries to develop, adapt, and audit AI systems independently.

Despite the optimism surrounding the summit, questions remain about whether it will deliver tangible outcomes on AI safety. Henry Ajder has expressed cautious optimism about international cooperation but acknowledges that achieving global consensus remains a distant goal. Meanwhile, Wendy Hall, one of the UK’s leading AI researchers, has warned that expectations of immediate breakthroughs on safety must be tempered.

The AI Impact Summit in Delhi represents a significant symbolic shift. By hosting a major global dialogue in the Global South, the conversation around artificial intelligence is becoming more inclusive—geographically, economically, and politically.

However, symbolism alone cannot resolve structural challenges. Deep disparities in access, investment, and influence persist. Corporate dominance continues to shape the trajectory of innovation, while critical issues of safety, accountability, and transparency remain unresolved.