India, AI governance, and a voice for the Global South
The article analyzes India's shifting geopolitical stance during the 2026 AI Impact Summit, noting a move away from Global South solidarity toward a 'middle power' strategy. It argues that India's alignment with U.S.-led semiconductor supply chains and pro-innovation regulations compromises its strategic autonomy.
Why it matters
It highlights the tension between emerging economies' development goals and the influence of global powers in setting international AI governance standards.
In February 2026, India hosted the India AI Impact Summit 2026, that sought to put the needs and challenges of the Global South at the centre of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) discourse. The summit’s themes framed by India were rooted in the contextual realities of the Global South with a focus on real-world harms. This was a departure from the previous summits (at Bletchley Park, 2023, U.K.; Seoul 2024, and Paris 2025) that prioritised both catastrophic and existential risks over questions of present harms, equity and inclusion.
The article uses critical framing regarding India's 'lonely corner' and 'compromised autonomy,' reflecting a post-colonial critique of current geopolitical alignments.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in