'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya': PM Modi Sets Tone for AI Impact Summit in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed world leaders, industry experts and dignitaries arriving in the national capital for the AI Impact Summit being held at Bharat Mandapam, emphasising the event’s theme of “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya”, meaning welfare for all, happiness for all.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the theme reflects India’s shared commitment to harnessing Artificial Intelligence for human-centric progress.

“AI today is transforming several sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, governance and enterprise. The AI Impact Summit will enrich global discourse on diverse aspects of AI, such as innovation, collaboration, responsible use and more. I am confident that the outcomes of the Summit will help shape a future that is progressive, innovative and opportunity-driven,” the Prime Minister said.

“Thanks to the 1.4 billion people of India, our nation stands at the forefront of the AI transformation. From digital public infrastructure to a vibrant StartUp ecosystem and cutting-edge research, our strides in AI reflect both ambition and responsibility,” he said.

The AI Impact Summit, scheduled from February 16 to 20 in New Delhi, will host leaders from over 20 countries, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, along with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Why did Bill Gates visit Amaravati ahead of the AI Impact Summit?

Ahead of the summit, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates arrived in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, where he was received at Gannavaram Airport by Andhra Pradesh Minister and Telugu Desam Party leader Nara Lokesh.

Gates, who chairs the Gates Foundation, later proceeded to the Secretariat for discussions on partnerships in health, agriculture, education and technology-driven governance.

In a post on X, Nara Lokesh wrote, "Welcome to Amaravati, Mr. Bill Gates. It was a pleasure to receive the Chair of the Gates Foundation at Gannavaram Airport today, along with my colleagues Home Minister Smt. Anitha Garu, Agriculture Minister Sri Atchannaidu Garu & Health Minister Sri Satya Kumar Garu. We have now proceeded to the Secretariat for discussions on strengthening partnerships in health, agriculture, education, and technology-driven governance. Andhra Pradesh looks forward to working closely with the Gates Foundation to create scalable, impactful solutions for our people."

Gates is among the prominent global leaders attending the summit, which Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate with an expo at Bharat Mandapam.

How will the AI Impact Summit shape the new industrial era driven by AI?

Executive Vice President of Nvidia, Jay Puri, said the world is witnessing the start of a new industrial era shaped by AI.

"It's incredibly exciting to be traveling to New Delhi for the AI summit at such a defining moment for our industry. The energy, ambition and pace of innovation we are seeing are extraordinary. We are at the beginning of a new industrial era, one that will be shaped by AI. The future of AI will be global, but it will also be deeply local. And it's inspiring to see India playing such a key role in shaping that future. With one of the world's largest developer ecosystems, a thriving startup landscape and extraordinary digital ambition, India has the scale and talent to lead in this era. We are here to collaborate with the government, industry, startups and academia to help build and scale AI that drives real economic growth and meaningful societal impact," Jay Puri said in a video posted by the Indian Embassy in the US.

Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, also expressed optimism about India’s role in the AI movement.

"I am delighted to be attending the AI Impact Summit in India and am looking forward to the role India plays in this movement of AI," he said.

The summit builds on India’s development-focused approach to AI and aligns with the India AI Mission and the Digital India Initiative, with an emphasis on translating global AI discussions into practical and people-centric outcomes.

(With inputs from ANI)