Global leaders urge inclusive, responsible AI during landmark India summit

Technology leaders and policymakers from around the world gathered this week at India's AI Impact Summit, where discussions focused on the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI), and the need for responsible governance.

The landmark summit, held from February 16 to 20 in New Delhi, features international pavilions and showcases hundreds of AI startups driving global collaboration.

Speaking during the summit, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, described the progress of Chinese technology companies across the AI stack as "remarkable."

In comments to CNBC on the sidelines of the event, Altman said the pace of advancement in many technology fields, particularly AI, is "amazingly fast." He noted that while Chinese firms in some areas are near the global frontier as the race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI) intensifies.

Also addressing the summit, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, acknowledged that "responsible AI" has become a frequently used phrase in the technology sector, often driven by concerns over AI's social and ethical risks. Pichai said Google has taken concrete steps to mitigate these dangers, emphasizing safety, accountability and long-term societal impact as AI systems become more powerful and widely deployed.

The event was marked by the notable absence of Bill Gates, who withdrew from the summit just hours before his scheduled keynote address. His decision came amid renewed scrutiny over his past ties to the disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of emails by the U.S. Justice Department.

French President Emmanuel Macron used his remarks at the summit to underline Europe's commitment to both innovation and oversight. Macron said France is doubling the number of AI scientists and engineers it trains, while new startups in the sector are creating tens of thousands of jobs.

He also stressed the importance of strong safeguards, pointing to the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, adopted in 2024 and now being implemented in phases, as a global benchmark for AI regulation.

The summit also featured remarks from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who called for the creation of a $3 billion international fund to help developing countries build foundational AI capabilities, including skills training, access to data and affordable computing power.

"The future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries, or left to the whims of a few billionaires," Guterres said, emphasizing that AI must "belong to everyone."