Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, describes India as a ‘very positive case study’ in artificial intelligence, crediting the country’s vast talent base and fast-growing startup ecosystem for its momentum.
Speaking at the ‘Governing in the Age of AI: Sovereignty, Impact and Strategy’ session on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the 29-year-old executive said India is outpacing traditional tech hubs in select AI segments.
Wang, an MIT dropout who co-founded Scale AI in 2016 and led it for nearly a decade, pointed to a striking trend from his recent interactions with founders and investors.
“There are more consumer AI startups in India than in the United States,” he said, calling the development a reflection of the country’s deep technical workforce and strong entrepreneurial pipeline.
Highlighting what he termed ‘shining examples’ of ecosystem growth, Wang said the concentration of innovation within India is accelerating the pace of AI development. His remarks came during a fireside chat with former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, according to ANI.
The five-day summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and running until 20 February 2026, has brought together global policymakers, technology leaders, researchers, and civil society groups to shape conversations on AI governance, safety, ethics, and the future of work. The event spans 10 arenas across more than 70,000 square metres and features 13 pavilions from different countries.
High-profile participants include Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
The venue has faced organizational difficulties as it is the first major international AI event that has attracted worldwide attention. Numerous visitors have reported experiencing extended waiting times, excessive crowding, and disorientation throughout the location.