Key Points:
- Altman urged a global AI oversight body like the IAEA, warning centralized AI control could cause harm.
- OpenAI launched “OpenAI for India” with a TCS partnership, serving 100 million weekly Indian users.
- Experts warned of serious AI risks, urging governments to regulate before a major disaster occurs.
Sam Altman on Thursday called for global coordination on artificial intelligence at a Delhi summit, backing regulation and warning that centralized control of AI in one company or country could cause harm.
OpenAI’s chief executive addressed the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where policymakers and technology leaders discussed the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the need for safeguards.
Altman said the “democratisation of AI is the best way to ensure humanity flourishes,” adding that centralisation “in one company or country could lead to ruin.”
Sam Altman Calls For Global AI Body Modeled On IAEA
Altman said the world may need an international body similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency to coordinate oversight of AI development.
“We obviously do, urgently, as we have for other powerful technologies,” he said, referring to regulation and safety safeguards. He added that such a body should be able to “rapidly respond to changing circumstances” as AI systems evolve.
His remarks reflect growing concern among technology executives and researchers about the pace of AI development and the risks posed by increasingly capable systems.
The analogy between AI and nuclear technology has gained traction in recent years, with experts warning that powerful systems require international cooperation and monitoring.
OpenAI Launches ‘OpenAI For India’ Initiative
Hours before his remarks, Sam Altman announced the launch of the “OpenAI for India” initiative at the summit. He said the program aims to build infrastructure, strengthen skills, and create local partnerships to develop AI solutions tailored to India.
“The objective is to build AI with India, for India, and in India,” Altman said.
OpenAI plans to develop data center infrastructure in India in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services. The infrastructure will allow OpenAI’s advanced models to operate within the country, meeting data residency, security, and compliance requirements for government and mission-critical workloads.
Sam Altman said India is one of OpenAI’s fastest-growing markets. The company has 100 million weekly users in India, and more than a third are students, he said.
“This is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world,” Altman told reporters. “Maybe it’s the fastest at this point. It’s certainly the fastest for Codex.”
OpenAI opened its first office in New Delhi last year and now has its second-largest user base in India, Sam Altman said.
Experts Warn Of Risks, Call For Early Regulation
At the summit, other experts echoed concerns about AI safety and regulation.
Stuart Russell, a computer science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said the world does not yet have clear answers about the long-term impact of machines capable of advanced reasoning.
Russell said many leading AI executives acknowledge serious risks. “Some of the CEOs, pretty much all the leading CEOs, have admitted there is enormous risk to humanity,” he said.
He added that one executive suggested governments may act only after a major disaster comparable to the Chornobyl nuclear accident. Russell urged governments to recognize risks early and protect citizens through regulation.
Altman acknowledged that AI will affect the job market but expressed confidence in adaptation. “It will definitely impact the job market, but we always find new things to do,” he said. “I have no doubt we will find lots of better ones this time.”
The Delhi AI Impact summit highlighted broad agreement among industry leaders and academics that AI’s benefits must be balanced with oversight, as countries compete to lead in a technology reshaping economies and societies worldwide.
