In a significant development for India's artificial intelligence landscape, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly planning a high-profile visit to New Delhi in February 2026. This trip marks Altman's first visit to India in nearly a year and is strategically timed to coincide with the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled from February 16 to 20 in the National Capital.
Global AI Leaders Converge on Delhi
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is set to witness unprecedented participation from the world's top technology and artificial intelligence leaders. The event's attendee list resembles a global power map of the AI era, featuring industry titans who are shaping the future of technology worldwide.
Confirmed Summit Participants Include:
- Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google
- Demis Hassabis, Chief of Google DeepMind
- Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia
- Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic
- Alexandr Wang, Chief AI Officer of Meta
- Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm
- Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks
- Shantannu Narayan, CEO of Adobe
Indian business leaders are equally well-represented, with confirmed participation from Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Bharti Mittal, K Krithivasan of TCL, Nandan Nilekani, N Chandrasekaran, and several other prominent figures from India's corporate sector.
Altman's Agenda and Summit Dynamics
According to a TechCrunch report, while Sam Altman is not yet listed as an official speaker on the summit's public roster, OpenAI is said to be organizing exclusive, closed-door meetings on the sidelines of the main event. The publication further suggests that there might be a standalone OpenAI event scheduled for February 19, adding another dimension to Altman's visit.
Meanwhile, the AI ecosystem activity extends beyond the main summit. Anthropic is reportedly hosting a developers' day in Bengaluru on February 16, while Nvidia is said to be holding a separate event in New Delhi during the summit week, indicating widespread industry engagement with India's growing AI market.
Government's Vision and Investment Potential
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has signaled that the summit could unlock up to $100 billion in investments for India's AI sector. This ambitious projection comes as the government actively encourages startups to develop smaller, localized AI models to reduce dependence on US-based systems.
Minister Vaishnaw recently met with Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind and Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer of OpenAI, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos. Following the meeting, Vaishnaw stated, "Discussed India's growing role in shaping AI for global good. Encouraged active participation in the AI Impact Summit, to be held in New Delhi in February, 2026."
Demis Hassabis responded positively, saying, "Really enjoyed our discussion on AI's incredible potential to benefit humanity & India's important role in realising this - looking forward to continuing our conversation at the Summit!"
Strategic Importance for India's Tech Future
The convergence of global AI leadership in New Delhi represents a watershed moment for India's technology ambitions. The summit not only positions India as a crucial player in the global AI ecosystem but also provides a platform for collaboration between international tech giants and India's burgeoning startup community.
With substantial investment potential and growing government support for indigenous AI development, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 could serve as a catalyst for transforming India into a global AI hub. The participation of figures like Sam Altman underscores the international recognition of India's strategic importance in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
