India AI Impact Summit 2026

keynote-1

4 min read

TRACK:Keynote Speakers
SPEAKERS
  • Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister, Telangana
SESSION OVERVIEW

Add to Calendar Watch Live 20 Feb 2026 12:30 PM - 12:42 PM Bharat Mandapam Plenary Hall - B

VIDEO RECORDING

Keynote

Abstract

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy delivered a forward‑looking keynote on “Technology‑Led Governance and Harnessing the Power of AI for State Growth.” He traced the evolution of human inventions, positioned artificial intelligence as the latest transformative technology, and outlined a multi‑pronged strategy for India—and specifically Telangana—to become a global AI leader. The address covered infrastructure, talent, policy, and societal implications, culminating in a call for collaborative action across government, industry, and academia.

Detailed Summary

  • The moderator welcomed the audience on behalf of the India AI Mission and the India AI Impact Summit 2026, praising the Chief Minister’s leadership.
  • Revanth Reddy began with a warm greeting, acknowledging the presence of “the best minds from all over the world” and congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister for Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw for enabling the summit.

2. Historical Perspective on Innovation

  • Reddy highlighted a continuum of breakthroughs: fire, the wheel, agriculture → democracy, rule of law, universal suffrage → electricity, airplanes, vaccines, internet.
  • He argued that each wave of invention amplified human physical or intellectual capacity, culminating now in Artificial Intelligence (AI), which he described as “the greatest invention” of our era.

3. The Transformative Power of AI

  • AI is portrayed as a system that can out‑perform human cognition (e.g., writing poetry, generating reports, creating films).
  • Emphasis on AI’s “agency” — the ability to make decisions when instructed, analogous to an aircraft or autonomous vehicle.
  • Combination of AI with robotics yields machines possessing both physical and mental capabilities, heralding a new paradigm for productivity.

4. Global AI Competition

  • Reddy noted an “AI race” already underway, led by a handful of nations, corporations, and individuals.
  • He contrasted India’s historic role in the Services Revolution (software, telecom) with its lack of global‑product leadership in AI.

5. Strategic Roadmap for India

Reddy enumerated five strategic imperatives for India to secure AI leadership:

  1. Dual‑track Approach – Use and Produce

    • Countries can influence global AI trends by either adopting technologies or manufacturing them.
    • India must excel in both to avoid dependence.

  2. Leadership Across All AI Layers

    • Chips, green energy, data storage, platforms, applications, services.
    • Emphasis on the top three layers (hardware, platforms, applications) for immediate focus.

  3. National “AI War Room”

    • A centralized monitoring centre, proposed to be built in Hyderabad, linking central and state governments to respond swiftly to AI developments.

  4. World‑Class AI University

    • Establish an institution of global standards with cutting‑edge facilities, dedicated to original AI research.

  5. AI‑Driven Manufacturing & Supply‑Chain

    • Indigenous production of GPU chips, acquisition of rare minerals, and participation in the full AI supply chain.

6. Socio‑Economic Safeguards

  • Job‑Loss Estimation System: Develop a framework to quantify AI‑induced employment displacement.
  • Massive Reskilling Initiative: Upskill workers whose jobs are at risk, preventing a skills gap.
  • AI Fund for Start‑ups: Channel capital to nurture AI‑focused entrepreneurial ventures, aiming to create unicorns from Indian talent.

7. Telangana’s Role

  • Proposes an “AI Startup Village” in Telangana, serving as a national hub with Government of India support.
  • Calls for bi‑annual AI summits hosted across Indian cities (e.g., Hyderabad) to maintain momentum.

8. Institutional Recommendations

  • National AI Council: Modeled after the GST Council or NITI Aayog, to coordinate AI policy.
  • Dedicated AI Ministry: At both central and state levels, tasked with legislation to prevent AI misuse, especially regarding national security.
  • AI for Social Justice: Deploy AI tools to promote inclusion, poverty eradication, and equitable development.

9. Closing Invitation

  • Reddy extended an invitation for global and national institutions to collaborate within Telangana on AI initiatives.
  • Concluded with the rallying cry: “Jai Bharat, Jai Telangana.”

10. Audience Reaction & Transition

  • The audience offered a standing ovation.
  • The moderator thanked the Chief Minister and announced upcoming sessions, prompting the shift to the next agenda item.

Key Takeaways

  • AI is positioned as the most transformative invention of the 21st century, capable of augmenting both mental and physical tasks.
  • India must adopt a “produce‑and‑use” strategy to avoid dependency and become a global AI leader.
  • A national AI War Room (proposed in Hyderabad) will enable rapid response to AI advancements.
  • Investment in AI education (world‑class university) and manufacturing (GPU chips, rare minerals) are critical infrastructure pillars.
  • Reskilling and job‑loss estimation are essential to mitigate AI‑driven employment disruption.
  • An AI fund and a dedicated AI startup village in Telangana aim to foster indigenous innovation and create future unicorns.
  • Institutional frameworks—a National AI Council and an AI Ministry—are required for governance, security, and ethical oversight.
  • AI should be leveraged for social justice, targeting inclusion, poverty reduction, and equitable growth.
  • The Chief Minister’s vision places Telangana as a central hub for AI research, policy, and industry collaboration.

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