Data for Development: Building AI in the Global South, held on 18 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, a Main Summit event at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, examined how improved access to data and AI tools can strengthen innovation ecosystems across the Global South. As artificial intelligence becomes central to economic development and technological competitiveness, the discussion focused on how countries can move beyond being users of global technologies to becoming creators of AI solutions rooted in local priorities and capabilities.
The session brought together leading academicians and experts to discuss the structural requirements for building inclusive and sustainable AI ecosystems. Conversations highlighted the importance of democratising access to high-quality datasets, investing in digital infrastructure, and encouraging the development of locally relevant AI models that respond to national and regional needs. Participants also emphasised that as digital capacity expands, ethical design principles, responsible governance frameworks, and sustainable infrastructure planning must remain central to AI development.
The dialogue featured contributions from Dr. Ramanand, Director, CPRG; Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, Director, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta; Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi, Director General, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT); and Prof. Shalabh, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. The discussion underscored that expanding access to data and AI tools can help countries across the Global South strengthen innovation capacity, foster local talent, and shape their own digital futures in an increasingly AI-driven global economy.