While addressing the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today congratulated India for its leadership in organising the first AI summit in the Global South. “Prime Minister Modi, thank you for your kind invitation and congratulations for India’s leadership in organising the first AI summit in the Global South. The meeting in India has special meaning,” said the UN Secretary General.
Delhi: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, “Prime Minister Modi, thank you for your kind invitation and congratulations for India’s leadership in organizing the first AI Summit in the Global South. Meeting in India has special meaning.… pic.twitter.com/xee9bFZLUq
— IANS (@ians_india) February 19, 2026
At the Summit, the UN chief pressed for global guardrails to ensure accountability and the creation of a “Global Fund on AI” to build basic capacity. He also proposed a USD 3 billion global fund to ensure that all nations can benefit from AI, warning that without such investment, many countries risk being “logged out of the AI age,” exacerbating global divides.
Guterres warned that the future of artificial intelligence must not be shaped by a handful of countries or controlled by a few billionaires. Acknowledging that artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming societies and economies, Guterres asserted that its governance must be inclusive and globally representative.
Build AI for everyone with dignity, says UN chief
Emphasising on building AI for everyone with dignity as the default setting, the UN chief said, “Real impact means technology that improves lives and protects the planet.” He added that AI must be safe for everyone, which requires protecting “people from exploitation, manipulation, and abuse.
Addressing a major fear about AI, he stressed that investments must be made in workers so that AI augments human potential rather than replacing it. He called for tackling the looming social, economic, and ecological problems from the proliferation of AI. Hewarned about the challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
#WATCH | Delhi | At the #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026, UN Secretary General António Guterres says, “Prime Minister Modi, thank you for your kind invitation and congratulations for India’s leadership in organising the first AI summit in the Global South. The meeting in India has… pic.twitter.com/Q5ARSzZOKe
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026
On the impact on global warming and the environment, he said, “As AI’s energy and water demands soar, data centres and supply chains must switch to clean power- not shift costs to vulnerable communities”.
He also touched upon the toxic impact of social media on children, expressing concern that no child should be a test subject for unregulated AI.
On AI’s potential for bettering humanity, Guterres said AI can advance the UN overarching Sustainable Development Goals, accelerate medical breakthroughs, strengthen food security, bolster climate action and disaster preparedness, improve access to vital public services, and expand education.