AI Impact Summit 2026 revealed the gap between ambition and enforceable governance

The AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi from February 16-20, marked a significant gathering of nearly 90 countries endorsing the New Delhi Declaration on AI. Positioned as the largest AI summit in the Global South, it aimed to present a development-first approach to AI governance, contrasting with the safety-centric focus typical of Western-led summits. The event emphasized themes such as skilling, affordability, energy efficiency, and public-sector AI applications, reflecting the priorities of developing nations. Major AI powers including the US, UK, and China endorsed the declaration, signaling broad diplomatic alignment. However, the summit revealed a critical gap between ambition and enforceable governance. The New Delhi Declaration, structured around seven pillars like democratizing AI resources and secure AI, highlighted the importance of access to digital infrastructure and open-source AI. Yet, it remained largely non-binding, with references to voluntary frameworks and no mechanisms for enforcement, financial commitments, or accountability. This lack of enforceability underscored the