NEW DELHI – A global declaration aimed at guiding the development of artificial intelligence, signed by 86 nations at the conclusion of the five-day AI Impact Summit on Saturday, drew immediate criticism for its lack of binding commitments, despite calls for “secure, trustworthy and robust” AI systems.
The statement, released after a day-long delay to maximize signatories, largely reiterated voluntary initiatives and highlighted the potential benefits of AI – including advancements in medicine and translation – while acknowledging risks such as job displacement and the spread of misinformation. It comes as nations grapple with the rapid evolution of generative AI, described in the declaration as “an inflection point in the trajectory of technological evolution.”
The United States, which did not sign the statement at last year’s summit in Paris, citing concerns about hindering innovation, did participate this year, alongside a bilateral agreement with India focused on fostering entrepreneurship in the AI sector. US delegation head Michael Kratsios affirmed on Friday that the US “totally reject[s] global governance of AI.” The US-India declaration pledged a “global approach…unapologetically friendly to entrepreneurship and innovation.”
However, the US also added its name to the broader summit declaration, a move analysts say signals a shift in approach, albeit one that still prioritizes industry-led development. Amba Kak, co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, characterized the declaration as “another round of generic voluntary promises,” arguing it was “AI-industry approved, not one that meaningfully protects the public.”
The summit, the fourth annual global meeting on AI and the first hosted by a developing country, attracted tens of thousands of attendees, including leading technology CEOs. Discussions centered on the societal implications of AI, including potential job losses, the proliferation of online abuse, and the substantial energy demands of AI infrastructure.
The differing approaches of the US and China to AI development were a recurring theme in the lead-up to the summit. According to a report published by the Council on Foreign Relations in October 2025, the US tends to focus on the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) – AI that surpasses human cognitive abilities – while China’s priorities appear to be different. David Sacks, a former AI advisor to President Trump, estimated in late 2025 that China was only “three to six months” behind the US in AI development, though the significance of such a gap remains debated.
A recent analysis by the IEEE Spectrum highlighted a divergence in development strategies, with American AI models largely closed-source, protecting proprietary algorithms, and Chinese models predominantly open-source, offering wider accessibility, particularly in the Global South. The trend of US developers pivoting towards closed-source models, despite earlier contributions to open-source AI, further underscores this shift.
The summit declaration acknowledged the need to address security risks associated with AI, including misinformation, surveillance, and the potential for malicious applications, but stopped short of outlining specific regulatory measures. It emphasized the importance of “industry-led voluntary measures” and “appropriate policy frameworks that enable innovation.” The document also called for the development of energy-efficient AI systems to mitigate the technology’s environmental impact and highlighted the need for reskilling initiatives to prepare the workforce for an AI-driven economy.
The declaration concluded without establishing concrete steps for international cooperation or enforcement, leaving the future of AI governance largely in the hands of individual nations and the private sector. No further meetings or working groups were announced.
