IEEE SA was proud to participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026, an event that has quickly become one of the most influential conversations on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region. Representatives from IEEE SA, including Srikanth (Sri) Chandrasekaran, Country Head & Senior Director of IEEE India; Moira Patterson, Global Market Affairs & Community Engagement Director IEEE SA; and Alpesh Shah, Managing Director IEEE Standards, contributed as panelists, moderators and engaged participants.
The summit, held in New Delhi, brings together global leaders to explore how artificial intelligence can drive economic growth, strengthen pubic services and support sustainable development. IEEE SA is honored to help advance this important work by supporting responsible innovation and emerging AI standards.
Laying the Groundwork for a Trustworthy Information Future
Moira Patterson moderated the session, and Alpesh Shah participated as a panelist on “Information Integrity as an Infrastructure for Trust-Empowering Youth and Future Generations.” The discussion focused on responsible design approaches and the importance of scaling solutions that reflect broader global participation.
The panel examined what is required to strengthen today’s environment, including age-appropriate design principles and the introduction of global trust challenges. The conversation emphasized the need to move from policy aspirations to ethical commitments that support a safer digital future.
Other panelists included:
- Amir Banifatemi, Founder of AI Commons & Chief Responsible AI Officer at Cognizant
- Gilles Fayad, Fellow at Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG)
- Yuko Harayama, Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) Tokyo Expert Support Center
- Mohammed Misbahuddin, C-DAC Bengaluru
- Karine Perset, OECD.AI
- Gabriele Ramos, formerly UNESCO
- Mariagrazia Squicciarini, UNSECO
- Uyi Stewart, Vice President, Inclusive Innovation & Analytics at Mastercard
Empowering Teams for the AI-Driven Future
As part of the summit, IEEE SA partnered with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) on a workshop titled “AI Capacity Building-Scaling Knowledge, Driving Innovation,” focusing on human capital development across the AI ecosystem.
Sri Chandrasekaran served as a panelist. The session brought together key leaders from the government and education industry in examining how inclusive, well-structured ecosystems can strengthen AI readiness and accelerate innovation across communities.
The session examined what meaningful capacity building requires, from foundational AI literacy to advanced research skills, and explored how scalable frameworks and integrated standards can support long-term growth.
The session examined what meaningful capacity building requires, from foundational AI literacy to advanced research skills, and explored how scalable frameworks and integrated standards can support long-term growth.
Other Panelists include:
- Dr. Vit Dockal, Director, International Development Research Centre (INDRC) & CLARA SB Chair
- Dr. Adv. Lalit Patil, Ethics & Security Specialist, INDRC
- Shri Gokulatheerthan M, Scientist F, C-DAC
- Moderated by Shri Ramesh N.aveti, Scientist F, C-DAC
The Importance of Global Trust
In addition, Shah participated in a session focused on the global trust challenge. The discussion highlighted the importance of empowering future generations and emphasized the need for multilateral collaboration to build trusted information standards and structures.
This aligns with the recent launch of IEEE SA’s participation in the Global Trust Challenge, a global, multi-stakeholder initiative designed to move ideas for more trustworthy AI and digital information ecosystems from concepts to real-world testing. This challenge brings together policymakers and researchers to test what works, surface evidence, and support solutions that can be responsibly scaled.
Key Outcomes from the AI Summit
A central theme emerged across the summit: long-term progress in artificial intelligence depends on responsible frameworks that strengthen trust, safety and digital readiness. The conversations throughout the event highlighted that the goal is not to identify a single solution. Instead, the focus is on equipping organizations such as IEEE SA with the guidance and resources needed to advance standards, refine governance models and support innovation. As the digital world evolves, we must build systems that can evolve alongside it and protect users while enabling meaningful participation.
