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U.S. tech leaders express optimism for India AI summit
The summit brings U.S. industry executives, Indian officials, and global partners together to discuss responsible AI development, governance, and real-world applications.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 17, Feb 2026
- 00:54 EST
- 15
AI Impact Summit 2026 / impact.indiaai.gov.in
The India AI Impact Summit, which kicked off on Feb. 16 in New Delhi, has sparked optimism from leaders of major U.S. technology companies and industry groups on the growing role of the India–U.S. partnership in shaping global artificial intelligence development.
Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), which is leading the largest delegation of U.S. chief executives and senior technology leaders to the summit, described it as “a really important moment for artificial intelligence and for the U.S.-India partnership.”
Also Read: UK ministers travel to India for AI Impact Summit
Executives from leading U.S. technology firms are also participating in the summit. Jay Puri, executive vice president at NVIDIA, said the gathering comes at “a defining moment” for the industry.
“The future of AI will be global, but it will also be deeply local,” Puri said, pointing to India’s large developer base, startup ecosystem, and digital ambitions. He said NVIDIA is looking to collaborate with government, industry, startups, and academia to scale AI for economic growth and societal impact.
Jay Chaudhry, founder, chairman, and CEO of Zscaler, said India has the talent and vision to lead in secure AI adoption. He said Zscaler’s cloud security platform, built by engineering teams in India, processes more than 500 billion transactions a day, adding that zero-trust security is critical to enabling AI at scale.
Prith Banerjee, senior vice president for Innovation at Synopsys, described India as “a force multiplier for global AI growth,” rather than just a market. Banerjee said AI-driven systems spanning sectors from health care to mobility are transforming industries, and that India has the capability to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges through AI.
Victoria Espinel, chief executive officer of the Business Software Alliance, said she would join leaders from across the enterprise software industry at the summit. Espinel thanked the Government of India for convening governments, businesses, and civil society to advance AI adoption, and said the summit’s themes—People, Planet, Progress—align closely with BSA’s priorities for an inclusive digital future.
Qualcomm president and CEO Cristiano Amon said India is “helping shape what comes next” in AI. “Democratizing access to AI is essential,” Amon said, highlighting the role of efficient data center technology, on-device intelligence, and advanced networks such as 6G. He pointed to the potential of edge AI in India to drive progress in sectors including agriculture, health care, education, and digital services.
The India AI Impact Summit, being held in New Delhi from Feb. 16 to 20, brings together government officials, industry leaders, startups, and researchers from around the world.
The summit is positioned as a platform for discussions on AI governance, responsible deployment, and real-world applications, as India seeks to play a larger role in shaping global AI norms while expanding access to technology in the Global South.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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