From "Digital Sovereignty" to Deepfakes: Key Takeaways from World Leaders at the AI Summit in India

New Delhi, February 19, 2026. Global politicians and heads of technology corporations have gathered in India for the annual global artificial intelligence summit. The main goal of the meeting is an attempt to develop a unified AI governance framework amidst growing disagreements between countries, which were starkly evident at last year's meeting in Paris.

Here are the main statements and events of the summit.

Emmanuel Macron: Protecting Children and "Sovereign AI"

The French President used the platform to harshly criticize the uncontrolled development of technology.

• Child Safety: Macron called for protecting minors from "digital abuse." As a negative example, he cited Elon Musk's Grok chatbot, which was used to create deepfakes without the victims' consent.
• Big Tech Monopoly: He warned against concentrating technology in the hands of a narrow circle of companies, noting that "tech giants have become too big."
• Defending Regulation: Macron responded to critics of European legislation: "Europe is a space for innovation, but a safe space. And safe spaces win in the long run."
• Shared Vision with India: The leaders of both countries agreed on the concept of "sovereign AI"—technologies governed in a way that protects the planet and fosters inclusive economic growth.

Narendra Modi: AI as a Common Good

The summit host, India's Prime Minister, turned to cultural heritage, quoting Buddha: "Right action comes from right understanding."

• Humanism: Modi emphasized that AI must become a "shared resource for the benefit of all humanity."
• Trust: According to him, we are entering an era where humans and intelligent systems will "co-create and co-evolve." The success of this union is possible only if technology goes hand in hand with human trust.

Tech Leaders: Warnings about Risks

Heads of leading AI labs spoke about the inevitability of change and the need for control.

• Sam Altman (OpenAI): Called for "urgent" regulation of AI, comparing it to other powerful technologies of the past. Altman stated that the democratization of AI is the best way for humanity to flourish, while centralizing power in one company or country could "lead to ruin."
• Dario Amodei (Anthropic): Described a future that could arrive in just a few years as the emergence of a "country of geniuses in a data center"—a set of AI agents surpassing humans in most tasks. He noted that India plays a central role in balancing opportunities (curing diseases) and risks (job loss).

Scandal: Bill Gates' Speech Cancelled

The event was not without incident. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was supposed to deliver a keynote speech but cancelled it just hours before the start.

• Official Reason: The Gates Foundation stated the decision was made after "careful consideration" to ensure the focus remains on the summit's priorities.
• Context: The cancellation occurred against the backdrop of the US Department of Justice releasing new documents (in January 2026) revealing details of Gates' ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.