AI summit in India pushes a ‘third way’ between US and China

AI summit in India pushes a ‘third way’ between US and China

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2026/02/18/ai-summit-in-india-pushes-a-third-way-between-us-and-china_6750615_19.html

Publish Date: 2026-02-18 09:45:00

Source Domain: www.lemonde.fr

• India hosted the first artificial intelligence summit in the Global South at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, 2026.
• The event drew comparisons to previous AI summits held in Paris and Bletchley Park and featured a circular conference center and exhibition halls.
• Approximately 250,000 people were expected to attend, including about 15 heads of state and 30 CEOs from major tech companies.
• The summit was co-chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
• The Bharat Mandapam venue is styled similarly to a United Nations conference yet infused with elements from Paris’ VivaTech trade show.