Can we put AI to work in aid of inclusive growth?

Plans are in place for artificial intelligence to lift our path of economic expansion and put 'developed country' status within reach. The bigger challenge is to ensure that everyone gains

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India is making steady progress on artificial intelligence (AI). After chairing the Global Partnership on AI Council in 2024, the country is preparing to host the five-day India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi in mid-February. Apart from heads of state, CEOs of tech firms such as Google DeepMind, Anthropic, Adobe, Salesforce and Qualcomm are expected to attend. While AI development has been dominated by the US and China, India is clearly on the AI map. According to a report by the Niti Aayog titled AI for Viksit Bharat, AI adoption across sectors could add $17-26 trillion to the global economy over the next decade, with India well placed to capture 10-15% of that value, thanks to its large STEM workforce, expanding R&D base and growing digital capabilities. Stanford’s Global Vibrancy Tool ranked India fourth on AI globally in late 2024, before elevating it to third place in its 2025 edition. The government think-tank’s Viksit Bharat report released in September describes AI as a “decisive lever” to push India’s economic growth toward