New Delhi | RBN News
Eighty-five countries and three international organisations have signed the New Delhi Declaration at the India AI Impact Summit, with both the United States and China among the signatories. The declaration was adopted a day after the summit’s scheduled conclusion, as officials worked to broaden participation and secure wide consensus.
The government described the declaration as being guided by the principle of “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya” — welfare for all and happiness for all — underscoring that the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) must be equitably shared across humanity.
Major global participants, including Washington and Beijing, endorsed the document, marking a rare convergence amid broader geopolitical tensions over AI governance and technology competition.
Path to Consensus
Similar to the approach adopted at the 2023 G20 Summit, the declaration rests on voluntary and non-binding commitments rather than enforceable obligations.
While the document references AI safety and trust — issues that were debated in earlier global forums, including discussions in Paris last year — the final text leans more heavily toward collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
Diplomatic sources indicated that negotiations focused on achieving language acceptable to a broad cross-section of nations with differing regulatory philosophies and strategic interests.
Democratising AI Access
At the core of the 900-word declaration is a proposed “Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI,” described as a voluntary framework aimed at promoting equitable access to foundational AI resources.
The charter seeks to:
- Support locally relevant innovation
- Strengthen resilient AI ecosystems
- Promote access to computational resources and datasets
- Respect national legal and regulatory frameworks
The declaration also introduces the concept of a “Global AI Impact Commons,” a voluntary initiative intended to showcase AI use cases from around the world. Governments would be able to draw inspiration from documented implementations across sectors.
AI Safety and Trust
On security and trust, the declaration states that advancing secure, trustworthy, and robust AI systems is essential for maximizing societal and economic benefits.
It recognises:
- The importance of understanding AI-related security risks
- Industry-led voluntary safeguards
- Technical solutions to ensure system robustness
- Policy frameworks that balance innovation with public interest
The language stops short of imposing binding regulatory standards, instead encouraging industry-led measures and cooperative policy development throughout the AI lifecycle.
Human Capital and Workforce Development
The declaration places strong emphasis on human resource development in the AI era. It highlights the need to equip individuals with relevant skills through:
- Expanded AI education initiatives
- Workforce training programmes
- Reskilling frameworks
- AI literacy campaigns
- Training for public officials
Participants also acknowledged voluntary guiding principles for reskilling in the age of AI and a proposed playbook on AI workforce development aimed at preparing economies for AI-driven transformation.
Strategic Significance
The inclusion of both the United States and China as signatories is viewed as a notable diplomatic outcome, given ongoing strategic competition in advanced technologies.
While the declaration does not resolve regulatory divergences between major powers, it signals a shared willingness to engage multilaterally on AI governance principles.
What Happens Next
The declaration’s voluntary nature means implementation will depend on national policy choices and cooperative initiatives among participating countries.
Officials indicated that follow-up mechanisms, including working groups and collaborative platforms, may be developed to operationalise the charter and the AI Impact Commons.
As AI continues to reshape economic and social systems globally, the New Delhi Declaration marks an attempt to build consensus around inclusive growth, knowledge sharing, and responsible innovation.
