From disaster risk to food security, UN presses for people-centred AI at the Global Summit

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 opened on Monday in the capital city of New Delhi, bringing together world leaders, ministers, researchers and technology experts to examine how artificial intelligence can advance inclusive development and sustainable progress. According to organisers, more than 20 Heads of State, over 60 ministers and 500+ global AI experts are expected to participate in the five-day summit. 

AI and global cooperation

In an interview on the opening day, Amandeep Gill, the UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, said convening the summit in the Global South reflects efforts to broaden participation in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

He said the gathering marks an important step towards making AI related decision making more inclusive. The first Global AI Governance Dialogue, scheduled for July 2026, will provide countries with an opportunity to work jointly on policy approaches, he added.

The UN Secretary-General has proposed a voluntary global fund of up to $3 billion to support nearly 90 at risk countries. In addition, a 40-member international scientific panel on AI has been established to monitor developments and impacts and to issue evidence based reports aimed at informing governments, companies and society.

Gill also said that artificial intelligence has the potential to bring significant change across agriculture, education, industry and climate action. AI applications can help identify sources of emissions, improve energy efficiency and enhance infrastructure planning. At the same time, he cautioned that the rapid expansion of AI systems is increasing demand for energy, water and other resources, particularly for data centres. He also stressed that AI must always be used ethically, with human oversight and strong governance arrangements. He warned that misuse, including the spread of misinformation, poses risks that require coordinated global action.

AI and disaster preparedness

The role of artificial intelligence in disaster risk reduction was also highlighted at the summit. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, said AI can significantly enhance the ability to anticipate hazards, identify risk prone areas and populations, and enable timely preparedness and relief measures to minimise damage.

He cited AI based flood forecasting systems as an example, noting that they are faster and more accurate than traditional methods. In the future, AI could also analyse urban planning and construction safety to help reduce disaster risks.

AI and gender equality

During a high-level session on gender and technology, Soha Ali Khan, Actor and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Advocate for United Nations Population Fund India, raised concerns about rising risks facing women in a rapidly evolving digital environment. She stressed that strong ethical safeguards in artificial intelligence are essential to ensure safety and protect rights.

In a separate event at the summit, the launch of the AI Casebook on Gender and Agriculture highlighted the structural gaps in AI design. Speaking at the launch, Christine Arab, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at UN Women, warned that a “persistent design gap” remains globally. She noted that when fewer women are involved in building AI systems, fewer products reflect women’s realities.

Developed in collaboration with UN Women, the Casebook presents 23 AI solutions demonstrating measurable gender impact, ethical design and global replicability. The collection showcases systems advancing equity, safety, economic inclusion and improved public service delivery.

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AI and regulatory preparedness

Institutional readiness was another focus of the summit. On its margins, UNESCO and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India launched the India AI Readiness Assessment Methodology Report. 

Developed by UNESCO in partnership with the IndiaAI Mission and Ikigai Law as implementing partner, and supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the report is the outcome of 18 months of engagement. The process included five regional consultations across Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Guwahati, bringing together more than 600 stakeholders from government, startups, academia, research institutions and civil society.

The report highlights India’s strong AI talent base, vibrant innovation ecosystem and growing multilingual AI initiatives, while identifying priority actions, including strengthening legal and ethical oversight, expanding inclusive workforce transitions, enhancing centre–state coordination and integrating sustainability into AI infrastructure planning.

Through the Readiness Assessment Methodology, UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting India in shaping AI that is ethical, inclusive and human centred, advancing innovation while upholding rights, dignity and public trust.

AI and public health

Health applications of artificial intelligence were also showcased during the summit The WHO South-East Asia Region launched the Casebook on AI Health Use Cases Across the Global South, developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization. The compendium has examples of how healthcare workers around the world are starting to be equipped with decision aid tools to help standardize and improve care and equalize access and quality and reach to health. It highlights scalable, AI-enabled health solutions deployed in real-world settings. The featured cases demonstrate how AI improves health outcomes, strengthens health systems, and advances equitable access to healthcare. 

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AI and food and nutrition security

Food and nutrition security also featured prominently at the summit, where World Food Programme mounted a dedicated exhibition on technology and artificial intelligence solutions aimed at strengthening food systems and closing last mile nutrition gaps.

The exhibition showcased five WFP innovations, including three developed in India and two global solutions. Technologies developed by India’s Department of Food and Public Distribution were also on display.

In addition, the event included the felicitation of the top three ideas from the hackathon titled “NourishNext: AI enabled solutions for last mile nutrition challenges”, supported by WFP and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The initiative focused on AI powered nudges designed to bridge nutrition gaps through intelligent, locally adapted solutions.

AI and agriculture 

In a separate session on agriculture titled “AI for Agriculture: Data Sharing and Multimodality to Feed the Future”, Vincent Martin, Director of Innovation at the Food and Agriculture Organization, said AI must be rigorously tested, responsibly governed and sustainably financed to ensure it truly serves farmers. 

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