India AI Impact Summit 2026: Experts Urge Shift from AI Consumer to Global AI Creator

New Delhi, February 16: Artificial intelligence presents a defining opportunity for India, with experts calling for a decisive shift from being primarily an AI consumer to emerging as a global AI creator.

Speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, industry leaders and innovators underscored that building AI solutions with global relevance can strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem while opening up new employment avenues.

AI Adoption Opens Door to Job Creation​

Ankush Sabharwal, Founder and CEO of CoRover AI and BharatGPT AI, said artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming embedded in nearly every new application being developed today.

“As AI adoption grows, most people will naturally become AI users. However, for India, this is a unique opportunity to become a creator,” he said.

Sabharwal noted that AI has simplified solution-building, allowing not only engineers but also individuals from diverse professional backgrounds to create applications.

This democratization of innovation, he said, has the potential to significantly expand job opportunities by lowering the entry barrier for technology development and accelerating product creation across sectors.

Agriculture Set to Gain from AI Integration​

Sanjay Sethi, National Technical Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organisation, said the summit has drawn participants focused on understanding AI’s practical, real-world applications.

He emphasized that agriculture stands to benefit substantially from AI-powered interventions.

“AI can help in understanding weather patterns, predicting crop requirements at the right time, and shortening the food supply chain. Over the next two to three years, the impact of AI on agriculture will become far more visible,” he said.

The integration of AI in farming practices, crop management, and supply chains is expected to enhance efficiency and reduce losses across the agricultural ecosystem.

Young Innovators Showcase AI-Driven Solutions​

The summit also spotlighted emerging entrepreneurs leveraging AI to address sector-specific challenges.

Young innovator Akhila Pasupuleti introduced her AI-based e-commerce platform, Desh Ke Haath, which directly connects customers with artisans across India.

“We offer handicraft products from all 28 states and eight Union Territories. By removing middlemen, we ensure artisans receive fair value while consumers get authentic products directly from creators,” she said.

Another innovator, Srishti Purohit, shared details of her web-based AI solution, Enervision, designed to support patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

“This condition involves persistent fatigue, sleep disorders, and pain, and is often misunderstood in India as general weakness. Managing it is extremely challenging. Through my platform, Enervision, I aim to help patients better understand and manage their condition,” she explained.

AI Tackles Post-Harvest Losses​

Subhangi Singh presented the Intelligent Grain Storage System, an innovation aimed at reducing post-harvest losses in India.

“Every year, millions of tonnes of food grains are wasted due to poor and unscientific storage practices. IGSS enables real-time monitoring of storage conditions, predicts risks in advance, and triggers automated controls along with instant alerts to supervisors, allowing timely intervention,” she said.

By enabling predictive risk management and automated responses, the system seeks to address a long-standing challenge in India’s food storage infrastructure.

India’s AI Moment​

The discussions at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 reflected a broader theme: India’s AI journey is no longer limited to adoption. Experts believe that by focusing on innovation, global-scale solutions, and inclusive participation, the country can position itself as a leading AI creator while generating employment and solving real-world challenges across agriculture, healthcare, commerce, and supply chains.