An Official Pre-Summit Event for IndiaAI Impact Summit
Ahead of the 2026 AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, The Dialogue and ITIF’s Center for Data Innovation are convening an official pre-summit event in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2026 at the Google DC Headquarters
.📅 Date
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
⏰ Time
11:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Eastern Time Zone) | From Delhi to DC: AI Summit
4:00 PM onwards (Eastern Time Zone) | 🍸 Networking, Small Bites & Cocktails
📍 Location
Google Washington, D.C.
25 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20001
Your kind confirmation of attendance by January 16, 2026, would be sincerely appreciated.
Artificial Intelligence is the defining force of the next wave of global technological transformation. While the partnership between India and the United States, anchored in the iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology) and the TRUST framework, is a primary engine of this change, its true significance lies in its potential to shape multilateral standards for the global digital economy.
As the world’s leading democratic digital powers, India and the U.S. are uniquely positioned to co-create an AI ecosystem that is not only innovative but also inclusive of the Global Majority. This pre-summit convening in Washington, D.C., serves as a strategic bridge to the 2026 AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. By bringing together policymakers, technologists, and researchers, we aim to move beyond bilateral cooperation toward a multilateral blueprint for AI, one that prioritises democratised access, interoperable safety guardrails, and the deployment of AI for global public goods.
As a hub of AI innovation, the US—home to leaders like NVIDIA and Google DeepMind, who are key summit participants—provides an ideal venue for strengthening US-India collaboration. The forum will integrate multiple Chakra themes, with emphasis on affordable and accessible AI Compute, market access for companies in both countries, talent maximisation and key AI governance principles. Outcomes will contribute directly to the main summit, fostering bilateral ties and turning shared visions into global progress.
Confirmed Speakers
• Karan Bhatia, Global Head, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google
• Sunayna Dabas, First Secretary, Embassy of India
• Kazim Rizvi, Founding Director, The Dialogue
• Hodan Omaar, Senior Policy Manager, Center for Data Innovation
• Jeffrey D. Bean, Program Manager, Technology Policy and Editor, ORF America
• Senior technology executives
Panel 1: How Governments Can Scale AI Adoption Through Skills, Deployment, and Trust
This session will examine how countries are using AI to generate measurable economic and social impact, and the factors enabling or limiting its adoption in practice. Drawing on experiences from the United States, India, and other regions, the discussion will explore AI deployment across sectors including public services, healthcare, agriculture, finance, and small and medium-sized enterprises, with a focus on productivity, service delivery, and inclusive growth. It will highlight the role of skills and talent, how AI systems are adapted to local contexts and development priorities, and the shared lessons that can inform more coordinated approaches to AI adoption globally.
Panel 2: Compute Equity and Interoperable Safeguards: Bridging the Global Divide
This session reframes the “Compute Corridor” as a model for global compute equity rather than a purely bilateral initiative. It will explore how U.S.–India collaboration on compute access, resilient data infrastructure, and secure supply chains can offer a scalable template for the Global Majority. The discussion will also examine the development of interoperable safety and security standards to support a shared, multilateral framework for responsible frontier AI, highlighting the need to balance expanded compute access with robust safety guardrails.
Panel 3: The Innovation Policy Nexus
The Dialogue
Indian think-tank, based in New Delhi, working on the intersection of technology, public-policy and society. Ranked amongst the world’s top-ten think-tanks to watch out for by UPenn.
The Dialogue’s Coalition for Responsible Evolution of AI (CoRE-AI), which includes major tech players like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), Indian IT firms (Infosys), along with Indian startups and academia all working together on AI policy, innovation, and responsible deployment, alongside broader government initiatives for AI development and regulation. This collaboration helps shape India’s AI strategy, balancing large global investments with domestic growth and ethical frameworks.
Focused on balancing innovation with regulation, especially concerning copyright, competition, and ethics, while promoting trustworthy AI adoption and inclusivity through reports, roundtables, and close engagement with Indian government bodies like DPIIT and MeitY.
ITIF’s Center for Data Innovation
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), based in Washington, D.C., is consistently ranked as one of the world’s leading science and technology policy think tanks.
The Center is focused on policies for data-driven innovation, AI, open data, and IoT, aiming to maximize benefits through pragmatic solutions and public education, promoting responsible data use for economic growth and societal progress.
Further details, including forthcoming speaker confirmations and program developments, will be shared in due course. Attendees are encouraged to consult this event page regularly for the latest updates.