At the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Microsoft President Brad Smith declared India as the world’s largest AI classroom. He praised India’s leadership in shaping global AI conversations, highlighting its role in bridging the North-South divide and positioning itself as a hub for inclusive technology innovation.
India has taken center stage in the global artificial intelligence narrative. Speaking exclusively to NDTV during the AI Impact Summit 2026, Microsoft President Brad Smith emphasized that the “world came to India” to witness how the country is redefining AI’s purpose—not just building smarter machines, but creating technology that serves people, particularly in the Global South.
Smith underscored Microsoft’s long-term partnership with India, noting that the country is increasingly shaping the global AI agenda. He also cautioned that if AI adoption does not reach developing regions quickly, the economic gap between the Global North and South could widen further.
Key Highlights
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India recognized as the world’s largest AI classroom, symbolizing its scale and commitment to AI education and innovation
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Microsoft reaffirmed its role as a long-term partner to India, investing in AI infrastructure and capacity building
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The AI Impact Summit in New Delhi marked a defining global moment, shifting focus from machine intelligence to human-centric technology
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Brad Smith stressed the importance of ensuring AI benefits reach the Global South to prevent widening economic disparities
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India is positioning itself not only as a software powerhouse but also as the capital of AI use cases, driving inclusive growth and innovation
This announcement reinforces India’s growing influence in the AI ecosystem, where education, innovation, and accessibility converge to create a model for global collaboration. By framing India as the world’s largest AI classroom, Microsoft highlights both the scale of opportunity and the responsibility to ensure equitable AI adoption worldwide.
Sources: NDTV, Times Of India