New Delhi: The AI Impact Summit concluded here with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration that marks the success of the push by India and other countries in the Global South to frame AI as a global common good rather than an exclusive technological advantage for the rich and developed.The declaration, endorsed by 86 countries and two organizations, sets out a shared global vision for what it calls “cooperative, trustworthy, flexible and efficient AI,” whose potential can only be realized “when humanity shares its benefits,” and warns that “the choices we make today will shape the AI-powered world that future generations will inherit.”Signatories to this document include AI powerhouses the United States and China, as well as other technology leaders such as the Netherlands, South Korea, and the European Union.It is worth noting that Pakistan does not appear on the list.It appears that Taiwan, the leading semiconductor manufacturer, has been excluded due to China’s sensitivities, which has prevented its presence in international forums.Rooted in the principle of “sarvajan hitaya, sarvajan sukhaya” — well-being and happiness for all — a theme that Prime Minister Modi outlined in his inaugural address on Thursday, the declaration places equality and access at the center of AI governance, committing participants to “promote shared understanding, while respecting national sovereignty, on how to make AI serve humanity.”
For many developing countries, this focus addresses long-standing concerns about shaping technology rules without sharing them.The announcement is organized around seven action pillars, or chakras, covering the democratization of AI resources; Economic growth and social good; Safe and reliable artificial intelligence; artificial intelligence for science; Access to social empowerment; Human capital development; Flexible, efficient and innovative artificial intelligence systems.
Together they aim to translate the general principles into coordinated global action.
Human capital development is critical to realizing the potential of AI
Many voluntary commitments have been announced to support this effort. Among them is the Global AI Impact Commons, which is described as “a practical platform to encourage and enable the adoption, replication and scaling of successful use cases of AI across regions.”The idea is to allow countries to share proven applications in areas such as public services, development and governance, reducing duplication and accelerating impact. Trust and safety are another key theme, as the declaration emphasized that “developing safe, trustworthy and powerful artificial intelligence is essential to building trust and maximizing societal and economic benefits.” To support this, the Committee takes note of the Trusted AI Commons – a voluntary repository of tools, standards and best practices aimed at helping governments and developers build trusted AI systems across different legal and cultural contexts. With an interest in democratizing AI as one of the drivers of AD, he predictably asserts that “removing structural barriers and increasing the availability of AI research infrastructure can enhance the use of AI in scientific research and development across countries.” An international network of AI for Science organizations is expected to connect researchers globally and accelerate AI-driven discoveries. Human capital development is highlighted as critical to realizing AI’s potential. The Declaration stresses that “realizing the full promise of AI requires equipping people with relevant skills,” and supports this with voluntary reskilling guidelines and workforce development codes.
