Switzerland’s president says the next AI Impact Summit will be held in Geneva

Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced that the next Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit will be held in Geneva in 2027, making a pitch for smaller countries to “come together” to ensure good governance of AI development, so it’s not in the hands of a few “big powers”. Mr Parmelin, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks on Thursday (Feb 19, 2026) on the sidelines of the AI ​​Summit in New Delhi, said they discussed cooperation in innovation on artificial intelligence, multilateral cooperation and trade relations after the conclusion of the India-EFTA trade agreement in 2024.

Follow the highlights of Day 4 of India AI Summit 2026

“Switzerland looks forward to hosting the 2027 AI Summit in Geneva – and looking forward to working with the next host of the 2028 AI Summit, the United Arab Emirates, as a partner for the Geneva Summit,” Mr Parmelin told journalists after a session at the India Pavilion in Switzerland. “It consolidates our role as a leading center for innovation and research in AI,” he said, adding that the next summit will focus on international legal aspects of AI.

When asked about the dominance of US and China, the two biggest AI players that account for more than 70% of the global AI industry, Mr. Parmelin said smaller countries should “organize” and build infrastructure together, noting specific technological advances in many other countries.

good governance

“It is important that we work together so that [technological future of the world] Not just in the hands of a few big powers,” Mr. Parmelin said in response to a question The Hindu. “We know that some countries have moved forward, and it is important to bring good governance to everyone. In particular, countries like South Korea, France, Switzerland should work together to bring good governance to other countries,” he added.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement after his meeting with Mr. Modi that the two leaders discussed the benefits of India’s four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) for bilateral trade.

“Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in innovation-led growth, joint research, sharing of best practices and capacity building through training and skill development initiatives,” the MEA statement said.

Shri Modi welcomed the plans to hold the fifth summit in Switzerland. Since the first summit in the UK in 2023, AI Impact Summits have been hosted by South Korea, France and India.