Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai met on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi to discuss strategic partnerships that could accelerate India’s adoption of artificial intelligence across key sectors. The conversation highlighted collaboration opportunities between government, industry and research communities to deepen AI deployment nationwide.
Productive talks on AI collaboration
After the meeting, Prime Minister Modi described the exchange as constructive, noting discussions on integrating AI into sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and education, and on engaging Indian students, developers and researchers. Sundar Pichai reiterated Google’s confidence in India’s digital trajectory and stressed the company’s commitment to supporting AI-led transformation across public and private sectors.
India AI Impact Summit: Forum for policy and partnership
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam convened policymakers, technology executives, startup founders, academics and international delegates to debate AI governance, innovation and economic applications. The multi-day event has become a focal point for aligning policy with technological execution and for showcasing solutions from hundreds of Indian startups.
India is positioning itself as a central player in the global AI ecosystem by encouraging cross-border collaboration, fostering startup growth and convening stakeholders to shape regulatory and ethical norms for AI deployment.
Google’s commitments and initiatives
At the summit, Google outlined plans to strengthen India’s digital infrastructure, invest in research and fund AI initiatives. The company highlighted efforts to expand connectivity, support scientific research through AI tools, and launch targeted funding programmes to accelerate innovation.
Google also emphasised making AI accessible in regional languages, reflecting India’s linguistic diversity and driving broader inclusion in digital services and tools.
AI for inclusive and sustainable growth
Both leaders stressed the need for AI to deliver benefits at the grassroots level—improving diagnostic capabilities in rural healthcare, enabling precision agriculture through data-driven insights, and expanding education and skilling opportunities for India’s youth.
Discussions at the summit underlined the importance of responsible AI development. Ethical safeguards, data privacy frameworks and workforce development were identified as critical components of India’s AI roadmap.
Looking ahead
The Modi–Pichai interaction signals a shared emphasis on harnessing AI for inclusive growth and global competitiveness. As India accelerates its digital transformation, sustained investments, clearer policy frameworks and stronger public–private partnerships are expected to shape the next phase of the country’s AI ambitions.
