New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact adopted; US, UK, China among 88 nations to endorse vision for collaborative AI

On the principle of 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya' -- Welfare for all, Happiness for all -- the declaration underscores that the benefits of AI must be equitably shared across humanity.

New Delhi: The AI Impact Summit-2026 on Saturday concluded with the adopting New Delhi Declaration committing to ensure that benefits of AI are "equitably shared across humanity".

A significant show of global consensus on artificial intelligence, 88 countries and international organisations have adopted the declaration including heavyweight players such as the United States, United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the European Union.

The summit was held in the national capital from 16-20 February, with the expo extended by a day till 21 February. In all, about 118 countries participated in the summit including heads of global tech giants who intensely-debated global topics in the tech universe, from AI's opportunities and risks, governance and the future of jobs.

The New Delhi Declaration sets out a shared vision for “collaborative, trusted, resilient and efficient AI.” It calls for strengthening international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement while respecting national sovereignty, and emphasises that the benefits of artificial intelligence should be equitably shared.

India's Ministry of External Affairs described the outcome as a "significant milestone in global cooperation on artificial intelligence," highlighting a shared commitment to leveraging AI for economic growth, social good, and equitable benefits worldwide.

At the heart of it, the declaration is guided by the ancient Indian principle of "Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya"—welfare and happiness for all—underscoring that AI's promise must be realized through inclusive, multistakeholder approaches that respect national sovereignty while removing barriers to access

The Declaration advocates for international collaboration in AI, focusing on skill development, affordable access, and the removal of structural barriers to enhance social and economic benefits.

However, the declaration is non-binding but signals strong political will for collaboration. .

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's human-centric AI vision has been accepted by the world. Democratising Artificial Intelligence resources so AI facilities, services and technology can reach everyone in society, that has been accepted by all," IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.

Structured around seven pillars -- termed 'Chakras' -- the Declaration outlines action areas, including democratising AI resources, economic growth and social good, secure and trusted AI, AI for science, access for social empowerment, human capital development, and resilient, efficient and innovative AI systems.

Among key outcomes is the Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI, a voluntary framework aimed at expanding affordable access to foundational AI resources and strengthening local innovation ecosystems.