India positioning itself as emerging power in AI race, says Wedbush

India is hosting a major AI Summit in New Delhi this week, bringing together global technology leaders and policymakers as the country seeks to strengthen its position in the fast-growing artificial intelligence sector, according to a new note from Wedbush analysts.

The conference is expected to feature prominent figures including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.

Wedbush analysts wrote that the gathering will focus on the real-world applications of AI and the development of “a delivery-oriented model around AI,” while emphasizing responsible and safe deployment across global regulatory frameworks.

The analysts expect discussions to center on AI’s potential to drive economic development, job creation, and investment across India and the broader region. With major industry leaders in attendance, the firm anticipates announcements tied to expanded cloud infrastructure, developer ecosystems, and AI products tailored specifically for Indian markets.

India’s technology ambitions were underscored by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s projection that the country could attract roughly $200 billion in AI and deep-tech investment over the next two years, the analysts noted.

Wedbush added that large multinational commitments are already taking shape, pointing to Microsoft’s previously announced $50 billion investment by 2030 aimed at narrowing the global AI adoption gap, as well as Google’s plans to invest up to $15 billion in Indian infrastructure, including a full-stack AI hub in Vizag.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the summit to outline India’s strategic positioning in the global AI landscape. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address sought to position India as a ‘bridge’ between the West and the Global South,” the analysts wrote. They added that the summit is the first of its kind in the region and is structured around three core pillars — “People, Planet, and Progress.”

India has also unveiled plans to expand its domestic computing capacity, announcing the addition of 20,000 GPUs in the near term and targeting 100,000 GPUs by the end of 2026. Wedbush believes the initiative reflects India’s ambition to become “one of the leading AI powers behind China and the US.”

Further, the government is focused on democratizing AI access and building workforce skills to support broader adoption. The analysts noted Modi is prioritizing sovereign AI capabilities that leverage secure local data to enhance public services in areas such as education, agriculture, and healthcare.

Wedbush characterized the summit as a pivotal moment for the country’s technology strategy. “This is an important week for India and PM Modi to establish the framework for India to become a major player in the AI Revolution as this global tech arms race plays out in 2026,” the analysts wrote.