Washington DC: Assistant to US President Donald Trump and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Michael Kratsios, has announced that he will lead the US delegation to the AI Impact Summit in India later this month.
“Looking forward to leading the U.S. delegation to the AI Impact Summit in India this month,” Kratsios posted on X, adding, “America is setting the gold standard for AI innovation and we want to share it with our global partners.”
His announcement follows a report by POLITICO journalists Katherine Long and Cheyenne Haslett, which said Kratsios will travel to New Delhi with a US delegation to participate in the summit. According to the report, Kratsios will use the platform to provide an update on President Trump’s America AI Exports programme, created by executive order in July to promote adoption of US technology standards globally.
The US delegation will include Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt, and Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler.
Kratsios further noted on X that “@UnderSecE, @TradeGov U/S Kimmitt, @BISgov U/S Kessler, & @skrishnan47 will join @USAmbIndia on Team USA in Delhi.”
Highlighting the scale of the event, the POLITICO report described the AI Impact Summit as “one of the biggest global gatherings for industry leaders and policymakers in the sector,” noting that it marks the first time the event is being held in the Global South.
The India AI Impact Summit will be held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, making it the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. Designed as a five-day programme, the summit will span policy, research, industry and public engagement, anchored on three foundational pillars—People, Planet and Progress.
The summit is expected to bring together global leaders, policymakers, technology companies, innovators and experts to deliberate on AI’s role in governance, innovation and sustainable development.
Alongside the summit, the India AI Impact Expo, spread across more than 70,000 square metres, will feature over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries across 10 thematic pavilions, showcasing AI’s transition from research and pilot projects to large-scale deployment.
The event builds on India’s development-focused approach to AI, aligned with the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India Initiative, with an emphasis on translating global AI discussions into practical, people-centric outcomes. It highlights AI’s role in strengthening governance, improving public service delivery and supporting inclusive growth at scale—covering applications in healthcare, agriculture, education, finance and governance.
Recognising AI’s strategic importance, the Government of India has prioritised the development of AI compute infrastructure, indigenous models and large-scale capacity building to enable responsible and trusted adoption.
Deliberations at the summit will be structured around seven thematic “Chakras”—Human Capital; Inclusion for Social Empowerment; Safe and Trusted AI; Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency; Science; Democratising AI Resources; and AI for Economic Growth and Social Good—providing a framework for multilateral cooperation and shared learning.
The summit programme includes pre-summit events and regional AI conferences held across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Telangana, with outcomes feeding into the main agenda.
The main summit has received over 700 proposals and will feature sessions across all seven Chakras, along with the release of the AI Compendium on February 17, documenting real-world AI applications across priority sectors.
Flagship initiatives include AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge, AI by HER: Global Impact Challenge, YUVAi: Global Youth Challenge, and a Research Symposium on AI and its Impact on February 18. The AI Impact Expo will serve as a business-focused platform connecting innovators and investors.
Supported by core institutions including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, IndiaAI Mission, Software Technology Parks of India, and Digital India, the summit aims to strengthen governance frameworks, promote responsible AI, expand workforce readiness, and foster sustained partnerships across government, academia, startups and industry.
Expected outcomes include accelerated AI deployment across priority sectors, improved policy coordination, and positioning India as a global hub for AI innovation and implementation, aligned with the vision of a digitally empowered and technology-driven India.