AI Impact Summit 2026: Significant Moments

AI Impact Summit 2026 witnessed a delightful interaction when Rishi Sunak, the former UK Prime Minister, used humour and a family snippet to connect political leaders with technologists.

Addressing an engaged audience of policymakers, entrepreneurs, and engineers in New Delhi, Sunak reflected on the doubts he had previously faced regarding his ability to engage effectively with the technology sector despite lacking a STEM background.

Humour Bridging Gaps

Sunak drew chuckles from attendees at the India AI Summit with a light-hearted comment involving his father-in-law, N. R. Narayana Murthy, during a story about family gatherings. His amusing anecdote quickly gained traction on social media, bringing levity to the otherwise serious discussions concerning AI governance.

He remarked, “There was some scepticism about whether you can bring politicians, leaders and entrepreneurs together and whether they understand each other,” sharing how even his advisers were worried about his participation in conversations filled with elite engineers and innovators.

Family Bonds in Tech

To ease concerns, Sunak pointed to his family’s strong connections to science and technology. He highlighted that his wife’s uncle is a professor of astrophysics at the California Institute of Technology, while a brother-in-law possesses a PhD in computer science.

The enjoyable punchline, however, revolved around his father-in-law, N R Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys and a pivotal figure in India’s tech landscape. Sunak humorously quipped, “If I can survive family dinner with my in-laws, I can survive the summit.”

This statement resonated well with the audience and quickly became a focal point on social media, providing a humorous contrast to the serious subjects of AI governance, infrastructure, and international competition.

Global AI Leadership Gathering

The five-day AI Impact Summit took place from February 16 to 20, bringing together influential voices pivotal to the future of artificial intelligence. Notable speakers included Sam Altman from OpenAI, Sundar Pichai of Google, Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, and Dario Amodei from Anthropic.

Additionally, the Indian industry was well-represented with leaders like Mukesh Ambani from Reliance Industries, Rishad Premji from Wipro, and Vishal Sikka from Vianai.

The event attracted global political leaders, including Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron, and António Guterres, along with representatives from major tech companies such as Microsoft and Adobe.

While the Summit covered intricate topics — from responsible AI development to cross-border regulatory alignment — Sunak’s anecdote highlighted a crucial message: interdisciplinary collaboration is vital for shaping the future of AI.