India AI Impact Summit 2026

keynote-2

5 min read

TRACK:Economic Growth and Social Good
SPEAKERS
  • Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, OECD
SESSION OVERVIEW

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Keynote

Abstract

In this opening keynote at the India AI Impact Summit, Mathias Cormann highlighted the OECD’s role in shaping global AI policy. He presented evidence‑based estimates of AI’s economic upside, outlined the scale of private‑sector investment, and described the organisation’s data‑driven tools for tracking AI deployment, risks, and policy performance. Cormann announced several OECD initiatives—including the AI Index, an interactive policy‑toolkit, the expansion of the Global Partnership on AI (GPI) with Malta and Saudi Arabia, and a new Equitable AI Transitions Playbook—aimed at fostering responsible, inclusive AI adoption worldwide.

Detailed Summary

Mathias Cormann opened by thanking India for hosting the summit and for its leadership in bringing together the global AI community after the successful summits held in the United Kingdom, Korea, and France. He positioned the OECD as a partner that supports policymakers, businesses, and societies in “harnessing the benefits of AI” through evidence‑based analysis and policy guidance that balances innovation with risk management.

2. The Transformative Potential of AI

  • Economic impact: Cormann cited the OECD’s internal modelling that, under a strong adoption scenario, AI could raise labour productivity by up to one percentage point per year across OECD and G20 economies over the next decade. He linked this boost to greater efficiency, lower costs, and higher living standards.
  • Investment magnitude: He noted that three‑quarters of a trillion dollars in AI‑related infrastructure investment is planned by major technology firms in the current year, underscoring the scale of private‑sector commitment.

3. Public Policy as the Foundation of AI Growth

Cormann stressed that many foundational technologies—Internet connectivity, semiconductor supply chains, and related infrastructure—were enabled by proactive public policy. He argued that “effective public policy is essential to allow AI to reach its full potential,” and outlined four principal ways the OECD assists governments.

3.1 Understanding the AI Ecosystem

  • The OECD tracks global distribution of public AI compute capacity, helping nations shape industrial strategies and improve AI supply‑chain security.
  • It monitors global AI investment: a recent OECD analysis showed that 61 % of worldwide venture‑capital (VC) investment—about US $259 billion—now flows to AI firms, up from 30 % three years earlier.
  • The United States dominates this landscape, attracting 75 % of global AI VC deal value.

3.2 Monitoring and Classifying AI‑Related Risks

  • OECD data indicate a sharp rise in reported AI incidents: the average monthly media‑reported incidents rose from 92 (2022) to 324 (2025).
  • The organisation promotes the OECD Common Framework for Reporting AI Incidents, which seeks consistent, interoperable incident reporting worldwide.

3.3 Benchmarking Policy Performance

  • OECD AI Index (released the day before the keynote) provides an evidence‑based tool for policymakers to gauge progress against the OECD Recommendation on AI.
  • An interactive policy‑toolkit will launch later in the year, featuring a repository of global best practices to enable peer learning.

3.4 Coordinating International Efforts

  • The Integrated Global Partnership on AI (GPI), built on the OECD’s AI Principles, facilitates responsible AI development among governments.
  • Cormann announced that Malta and Saudi Arabia have formally joined the GPI, bringing total membership to 46 countries across six continents.

4. Supporting the Private Sector

  • The Hiroshima AI Process Code of Conduct, introduced at the AI Action Summit in Paris, encourages transparency and accountability for responsible AI innovation. The OECD is updating this framework to make it applicable to small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible AI (published the previous day) assists companies in navigating an increasingly complex landscape of regulations and voluntary standards.

5. Workforce Implications & Equitable Transition

  • Job displacement risk: Cormann’s analysis estimates that about 27 % of current employment lies in occupations at the highest risk of automation due to AI.
  • Training gaps: Among adults with low literacy, only 23 % participate in AI‑related training, compared with 61 % of those with higher literacy.
  • He advocated for flexible, modular, and individually tailored training to improve participation.
  • In partnership with the International LIBOR Organization, the OECD released the Equitable AI Transitions Playbook, which offers policy examples and initiatives for upskilling and reskilling workers, aiming for an inclusive AI transition.

6. Closing Vision

Cormann concluded by emphasizing the need for coordinated action among governments, industry, civil society, and experts to ensure AI’s benefits are maximised while risks are mitigated. He reaffirmed the OECD’s commitment to supporting this cooperation, guided by the organisation’s AI Principles, to build a “brighter, more prosperous future for all of humanity.”

7. Post‑Keynote Formalities

  • After the speech, Cormann thanked the audience repeatedly.
  • The session was handed over to Mr. Orgo Sen Kupta, Founder and Research Director of the Center for Legal Policy, who moderated the transition and invited dignitaries to the stage.

Key Takeaways

  • Productivity boost: With strong adoption, AI could raise labour productivity by up to 1 % per year across OECD and G20 countries over the next decade.
  • Investment concentration: 61 % of global VC funds (~US $259 bn) now flow to AI firms; 75 % of AI VC deal value goes to U.S. companies.
  • Rising incidents: Reported AI incidents have more than tripled from 2022 to 2025 (average monthly reports: 92 → 324).
  • Policy tools: The OECD offers the AI Index, an upcoming interactive policy‑toolkit, and a common incident‑reporting framework to help governments design and benchmark AI strategies.
  • International collaboration: Malta and Saudi Arabia have joined the Global Partnership on AI, expanding membership to 46 nations.
  • Workforce risk: 27 % of jobs are in occupations most vulnerable to AI‑driven automation; low‑literacy adults show significantly lower AI‑training participation (23 % vs. 61 %).
  • Equitable transition: The newly published Equitable AI Transitions Playbook (with the International LIBOR Organization) outlines concrete policies for upskilling and reskilling workers.
  • SME focus: The Hiroshima AI Process Code of Conduct is being adapted to support responsible AI adoption by SMEs.
  • Overall message: Realising AI’s full societal benefit requires coordinated, evidence‑based policy actions across governments, industry, and civil society, guided by the OECD’s AI Principles.

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