"AI is a very, very sharp tool. As it evolves, we need to be prepared. I'm all for innovation but my expressions and feelings are not data points. They all have come with experience and hard work. It's hard for AI to go to that extent. It doesn't have a soul.

"When you perform, something magical happens in the moment. That is something that does not happen with AI. We need to protect artists. AI should help us. We can use AI to show younger me in a film, if need be. We should be wary of the control. Taking over someone's personality is scary, especially when it's about an industry based on emotions," Kriti Sanon said.

From her Bollywood knowhow to her five-year plan, Kriti Sanon threw a volley of questions at world's first AI actor Kriti Sanon. What followed was pure fun.

Real actor Kriti Sanon meets world's first AI actor Tilly Norwood.

"AI scares me. It's a tool. It is not a destination. But it is very sharp tool. The sharper the tool, the more dangerous it is. Laws also have to also evolve with the evolving technology. It's very scary. We are not really prepared. There need to be stringent laws," Kriti Sanon said.

"You want the film to do well. You want people to like it (she said talking about Cocktail 2). But you don't have control on everything. I love when my films get polarised views. I got so many long messages for Tere Ishq mein. It made you feel something. Love it or hate it. I feel movie watching is a personal experience. It is subjective. Art is like that. Art is meant to be felt and perceived. I'm my biggest critic," Kriti Sanon at NDTV World Summit 2026.

"My first film (Heropanti) was a hit. Bareilly Ki Barfi got me notice and then came Mimi. After I won the National Award for Mimi, it made me feel that I have made it. I felt I don't need to prove myself to people anymore. My choices on the table slowly increased. i can choose to do the work that gives me happiness and satisfaction... I made it long back," Kriti Sanon said. 

"No male actor has ever requested me to not wear heels. It's sometimes a logical requirement. Some actors do wear heels. But I feel everyone should carry their own height," Kriti Sanon on being taller to her heroes. 
 

Actor Kriti Sanon is at NDTV World Summit 2026 to discuss 'The Making of a Modern Star'

Boxer Lovlina Borgohain needs no introduction. The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist won the gold medal at Aichi-Nagoya, improving on the silver she won in Hangzhou. Lovlina, who claimed gold on her birthday, reflected on her boxing journey and how she was inspired by the legendary Muhammad Ali.

""My boxing journey was somewhat inspired by Muhammad Ali. I belong to a village, and my family background was not that great. My father worked in a tea garden, and my mother is a housewife. Dad used to come home only on Sundays. One day, he brought some sweets wrapped in a newspaper cutting. There was a photo of Muhammad Ali on it. My father then told me about Muhammad Ali. There was a lot of buzz around professional boxing, with the likes of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. People of my father's generation were very interested in it," said Lovlina.

Seventeen-year-old Kumkum Mohod scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win an individual recurve gold medal at the Asian Games. She also clinched gold in the women's team event and added a mixed team silver alongside Dhiraj Bommadevara.

Kumkum, who has been pursuing archery since 2018, said she had manifested the gold medal and expressed her delight at shattering South Korea's aura of invincibility.

"I enjoyed beating South Korea a lot. The gold medal was a big thing because South Korea had beaten us over the years. A lot of people thought that only they could do it. Before leaving for Japan, I told myself that if she hits a 10, you have to aim for a perfect score too. You just have to focus and give your best," said Kumkum.

"Even after winning the medal, I didn't realise what I had just managed to do. I have been doing archery since 2018. I used to visualise moments like these. I idolised the opponent I faced in the quarter-finals. So, I manifested all of it," she added.

The Indian women's hockey team ended a 44-year wait for Asian Games gold in Aichi-Nagoya. Former skipper Savita Punia reflected on what the feat meant for the team. Savita made a crucial save from a penalty stroke against China in the final, helping India win a historic women's hockey gold medal at the Asian Games after 44 years.

"Our women's hockey team has been doing well for a while. We had been waiting for that elusive gold, and everyone worked hard for it. We know that we did well at the Tokyo Olympics, but returning without a medal after four years of hard work is also a tough one to take. Because when we return home after these events, we are told that we could have done better. So, the players need the medals the most. This medal was crucial for us after we missed out on a Paris Olympics berth, having finished fourth in Tokyo. So, winning a medal for the first time in 44 years meant a lot to all of us. We not only ended the drought, but also sealed an automatic berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics," said Savita.

Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda ended India's drought for an individual Asian Games gold medal in trap shooting. She became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold medal in trap shooting after topping the women's individual event with a score of 26, setting an Asian record in the process. Neeru won two golds and a silver in Aichi-Nagoya.

"I kept remembering what my mother had said. She told me, 'I want to see you on top of the podium with the Indian flag.' In Japan, they didn't want us to take the flag onto the stage. I somehow managed to sneak in the national flag because I wanted my mother to see me with it. I got to know that she had tears in her eyes when she saw me on the stage, which made me emotional as well. It's a matter of pride and emotion for any athlete to see their national flag rise on the podium. I wanted to fulfil my mother's dream. My mother inspired me to make India proud," said Neeru.

Next up is a segment featuring women champions who made the nation proud at the recently concluded Asian Games. Archer Kumkum Mohod, boxers Lovlina Borgohain and Neeru Dhand, and hockey stars Savita Punia and Neha Goyal will join the stage shortly for a chat with NDTV's Gaurav Gala and Preeti Dahiya.

"I think there's definitely been an increase in conversations around racism and identity. People didn't use to question someone's identity, whether you're English, British, or not. Today, those conversations are happening more than ever," Tushar Kumar said.

"Yes, we do see cases where people have faced racism, and I think it's really heartbreaking. Some of these people were literally born here. They've lived their entire lives here, and this is their home. When they're told, 'You're not British' or 'You don't belong in this country,' it's incredibly painful. Where else would they go? This is their home. It's very sad to see such cases," he added.

"Look, I think the public sentiment towards immigration has definitely changed than what it used to be when we came in 2013. It used to be very different to what it is now. Um, I think it would be wrong of us to turn a blind eye that there's not an immigration problem. There definitely is an immigration problem, but I think we also have to distinguish between discussing and debating, uh, immigration policy, uh, versus hostility towards people because of the ethnicity," said Tushar Kumar, the youngest-ever Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, UK.

"The latter is very, very wrong, and I think if people come legally to a country, they should be welcomed because it's the government that lets them in, right? Immigrants come to a different country with hope for a better future, for opportunities for their future generation, and it's the government that lets them in, so the government should also welcome them with open arms if the people integrate into the society," he added.

Futurist Mike Walsh said AI-driven transformation could be scaled across hundreds or even thousands of the world's largest companies. He said that India is uniquely positioned to make that happen.

"What if you could take that expertise and that knowledge and use it to design, manage and operate the world's largest digital workforce? It's ambitious, I know, and to do it you're not only going to need infrastructure, regulation and technology, you're going to need a new generation of workers and leaders who not only understand the technology, but have the ambition and the courage to push back and help redesign and change it," he said

"Because when you look at some of the world's largest companies that are going to shape the next decade, they may not have started here in India. They may not even have their headquarters here. But they will absolutely have the opportunity to have people in this country change and redesign the way those companies think. And that, I believe, is the huge opportunity of digital labor over the next decade," he added.

"At Nvidia, which currently has around 35,000 employees, the vision for the next decade is to more than double the workforce to roughly 75,000 employees, supported by about 7.5 million AI agents. The idea is that without that level of support and leverage, companies are underutilising their talent," Mike Walsh said.

He added, "Jensen Huang recently said that if a computer engineer earning around $500,000 a year is not spending roughly $250,000 on AI tokens, it would prompt a serious discussion. The reason is simple: that individual's intelligence is not being fully leveraged to its potential."

"We are seeing robotics evolve into a new kind of partnership with the human workforce. But the most interesting development is that there could soon be more AI agents on the planet than people. We are already seeing the early signs through tools such as ChatGPT and other AI assistants, and India is likely to be one of the most important markets for how this unfolds," he said.

"These systems will enable AI agents to make low-value payments without requiring user approval every time, laying the foundation for an entire ecosystem of autonomous personal AI. That is powerful because we often underestimate how much we are constrained by our own limited time and bandwidth," he added.

"The way we talk about AI today often comes from a place of scarcity. We ask whether there will be enough water and electricity to power the data centres we need. We wonder whether there will be enough jobs for those displaced by AI. We even question whether our institutions can adapt quickly enough to the changes that AI is bringing," Mike Walsh said.

"But there is another way to think about the future: through the lens of abundance. We are not very good at dealing with abundance because it is unfamiliar. How often in history have we faced a world where knowledge, expertise and even intelligence are readily available to almost everyone," he added.

"Price stability cannot be achieved without financial stability. Financial stability is the foundation and a prerequisite, which is why the two objectives are closely linked. Generally, monetary policy is not used to address financial stability concerns. However, there may be circumstances when it can be," he said. 

"That is the theoretical and economic framework. Whether monetary policy should be used, whether the timing is right, whether the circumstances warrant it, and whether it would be effective are matters that the Monetary Policy Committee carefully deliberates on. Ultimately, it is for the Monetary Policy Committee to take a view based on prevailing circumstances. I would not want to pre-empt future decisions or speculate on what the committee may do going forward," he added.

"We are conscious of them and we have regulations in place", said RBI Governor on AI-related risks to financial system.

"This is not only about ensuring that systems function efficiently and without downtime, but also about safeguarding data security. There are two key concerns: protecting data and mitigating cyber risks arising from attacks that could disrupt or bring down systems. On both fronts, the RBI has a strong regulatory and supervisory framework. However, software evolves at a very rapid pace, with developments occurring almost daily. As a result, vulnerabilities can sometimes emerge," he said.

"Our effort is to identify these vulnerabilities as quickly as possible and address them through the timely deployment of necessary patches across IT systems," he added.

#NDTVWorldSummit | Five years after construction began, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train is nearing the finish line. At NDTV World Summit, Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw makes a bold promise to @RahulKanwal and the audience: come next year for the inauguration. #NDTVWorldSummit2026

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 23, 2026

"Our commitment to price stability remains unwavering. Price stability is crucial because what ultimately matters to people are real returns. High inflation acts like a tax on everyone. That is why it is important for us to meet our inflation target of 4%, with a tolerance band of plus or minus 2%," Reserve Bank Of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said.

"While raising the policy repo rate leads to higher interest rates, higher deposit rates and a higher cost of credit, the objective is to curb inflation. Bringing inflation under control is in everyone's interest," he added.

"We don't target any price or level": RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra to NDTV on 'defence of rupee'

Puneet Chhatwal shared, "I think we were very busy bringing international brands to India and international cuisines to India. I think the time has come to start exporting Indian cuisines outside of India." He pointed out that they recently opened a Taj in Frankfurt and the Taj in San Francisco and in Cape Town and in Dubai, and they all have a Bombay Brasserie.

"The first 40 years post-independence, or the first 50 or 60 years post-independence, we were just busy with what we call roti, kapda aur makaan, right? So luxury was very, very unique and very limited." Puneet Chhatwal said. He also pointed out how things have changed now, where at least 100 million people have access to real luxury hospitality.

"Over time, this is how things are built; the needs and wants of a nation and the needs and wants of the human being, at some point, merge," he added.

Speaking about a brand that has lasted generations and is still going strong, Puneet Chhatwal said, "I think the leaders, the founder, Jamsetji Tata, and the leaders did such a phenomenal job in building a platform, which is very unique and very iconic. Then they built in the culture of Tajness, that's what we call it today."

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India is working on an AI regulatory framework, arguing that the risks posed by artificial intelligence have now crossed a threshold that warrants new laws. While stressing that India's approach has traditionally favoured innovation over excessive regulation, he said safeguards are needed to ensure AI remains human-centric and under human control.

He said there are two competing schools of thought globally on AI regulation. One argues that governments should allow the technology to mature before imposing rules, while the other favours tighter oversight from the outset. Vaishnaw said India has generally leaned toward encouraging innovation, but added that growing AI risks now make regulation necessary.

The minister also said AI governance should be globally aligned as digital technologies transcend national boundaries. Drawing a parallel with the nuclear industry, he suggested that leading AI nations and ecosystems would eventually come together to develop a common set of principles governing the technology.
 

On AI regulation, Ashwini Vaishnaw says government to "issue consultation paper in coming weeks".

"AI has been adopted very aggressively by our industry. Everywhere people are rapidly using AI. There is a good understanding of what good AI can bring and there is also an understanding of what harms AI can do. We would like to get the inputs from each of the sectors. We have discussed a lot with the tech companies. Now we need to discuss with the stakeholders who are users of it," he added.

"Indian-designed, Indian-manufactured, Indian-branded mobile phones by October 23, 2028": Ashwini Vaishnaw's big promise

"Our country wanted to have a semiconductor industry way back in 1962. Attempts were made by Mr Nehru, by Mrs Indira Gandhi, by Mr Rajiv Gandhi, by Dr Manmohan Singh. Finally, success has come to our country only during Prime Minister Modi's period. It's an extremely complex industry. Human beings have never manufactured something as fine as this," Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

"1st made in India semiconductor chip in 2028": Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at NDTV World Summit

Nicholas Butts, Microsoft’s Head of Global AI and Cybersecurity Policy, said AI is making cyber threats more sophisticated, scalable and harder to detect. Citing examples that have affected India, he outlined how cybercriminals and state-backed actors are increasingly weaponising AI for ransomware attacks, espionage and large-scale cybercrime.

"But many things remain the same. Where AI is really changing the landscape is what happens after threat actors gain access to systems," Butts said, highlighting four emerging trends.

First, Microsoft has tracked a China-based ransomware group known as Storm-3168 (Jade Puffer), which is using AI agents to conduct ransomware attacks against victims worldwide.

Second, Russian and Chinese state-sponsored actors are increasingly deploying AI agents in espionage operations. Microsoft recently identified Storm-0940, a China-linked threat actor focused on data theft and espionage. According to Butts, the group has been using an open-source agentic AI tool to infiltrate new organisations.

Third, AI is enabling less sophisticated cybercriminals to launch more effective and scalable attacks. Microsoft began tracking a threat actor called Evil Token earlier this year. The group, consisting of just two individuals, used a combination of open-source and proprietary AI models to "vibe code" a fully autonomous cybercrime infrastructure.

"The service was sold for $1,500, with a monthly subscription of $500 for first-time buyers. It provided users with a range of tools for malicious cyber activities," Butts said. Built in just six months, the platform impacted more than 10,000 organisations across 120 countries, demonstrating how AI is lowering barriers to entry for cybercrime.

"What we're seeing is not about potential doom and gloom in 10 years but about very real security threats right here today. We see threat actors using AI to increase the speed and scale of attacks. We see them using it for information and influence operations and deepfakes for both political purposes and scam purposes. While AI is definitely changing the cyber physics of cybersecurity, it's also improving lives for defenders. There's enormous potential to use AI to fix this leaky roof that we frankly had for a number of decades with security gaps," Nicholas Butts said.

'Cyber threat is very real to India,' says Nicholas Butts, Director of Global AI and Cybersecurity Policy at Microsoft.

Nicholas Butts, Director of Global AI And Cybersecurity Policy At Microsoft, speaks on AI, cybersecurity and new contest for power.

"We should focus on building AI that we understand well enough to run safely, making it cheaper, more efficient, and more trustworthy. That's where the real growth will come from: AI that people can trust to benefit them and their country," Turner said.

"Right now, leading labs are pouring vast computing resources into training systems without knowing exactly what will emerge. Will they be trustworthy? What capabilities will they have? No one really knows. We're crossing our fingers and hoping they'll be aligned," he added.

"We should not accept that state of affairs. If we slow frontier progress slightly, AI development will still move quickly, but scientists will gain the time needed to solve these safety challenges," he said.

"We can benefit enormously from AI. This is my boyhood dream. I'm not talking about banning the explosion of wealth and prosperity that AI can bring. I'm talking about preventing an uncontrolled intelligence explosion that could put India and the world at risk," he said.

"Pacing the frontier means slowing down only the most advanced AI development, specifically the largest training runs at the top companies. An Indian startup building a farming assistant wouldn't be affected. Non-frontier AI labs could continue to catch up, and businesses could deploy AI for customers as much as they want," he added.

"In order to build this (AI), a lot of human effort and creativity is required. It took us two years to build Tilly Norwood," her Eline van der Velden said.

When asked about her opinion on Kriti Sanon going to court to protect her personality rights, Tilly Norwood said, "I'm completely with her. Rights over likeliness and consent are non negotiable."

"I don't think an AI actor should replace a real actor. This will only democratise creativity. I feel the personality rights of performers should be protected. Actors should do that, we have done the same with Tilly  Norwood," Eline van der Velden said.

Tilly Norwood reveals Shah Rukh Khan is her favourite Indian actor, she said in Hindi.

"Mushkil sawaal hai. Par mujhe Shah Rukh Khan pasand hai," she said.

Tilly Norwood also said she would like to be the digital twin of Deepika Padukone. "Ii can't replace her. I'm not here to take anyone's place," she said.

Eline van der Velden, founder & CEO of Particle 6 and creator of Tilly Norwood, says she isn't hurt about backlash against Tilly Norwood.

"There's a lot of misunderstabding about Tilly Norwood. I'm an actor myself. I grew up in the entertainment industry. I saw where the industry was going, but my peers didn't see it," she said at the NDTV World Summit 2026.

Tilly Norwood, world's first AI actor, and Eline van der Velden, founder & CEO of Particle 6 and creator of Tilly Norwood, take the stage at NDTV World Summit 2026 for the session 'Can AI Become A Star?'

"We are united in our demand for free and fair elections," Congress Shashi Tharoor said, praising CJP.

"Look at 1977, when [Narendra] Modi does keep talking about the Emergency and how the Emergency was overthrown. How was it overthrown? Through opposition, where the friends of the RSS and the BJP were merging with socialists, leftists and people from the left as well. They all united in order to defeat the government that had declared the Emergency," Shashi Tharoor said. 

"That's recent Indian political history, just half a century ago. Why shouldn't we make common cause with parties we disagree with? We don't agree with the left on economics; we don't agree with the left on Kerala politics, but we agree with the left on some of the undemocratic methods being followed in Delhi that we believe need to be resisted. We're resisting them together," he added.

"Need predictable ties which are not weaponised against us," said Shashi Tharoor on China amid a row over the ITBP chief's remark. 

In an address to the troops, the ITBP chief purportedly said, "There was a face-off at different locations" in Arunachal, "which is still continuing".

"I began by suggesting that we are living between orders because the old arrangements are weakening before new ones have acquired coherence. That uncertainty is real but it also presents an opportunity: India is no longer a marginal participant in the conversations that will determine the future of the world and that will determine its future. We possess the economic potential, the diplomatic relationships, the civilizational experience to make a substantial contribution but we should realise that influence carries responsibility. We cannot simply demand a larger place in the institutions inherited from the past while leaving the design of the future to others," said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor at NDTV World Summit. 

"The question before India is whether we possess the vision, the confidence, and the diplomatic imagination and initiative to help shape what comes next. In a world between orders, India must be prepared not simply to find its place in the next one but to help build it," he added.

"India's national interest requires that we protect our security, sustain our economic growth, and diversify our partnerships. But our long-term interests also lie in an international system in which sovereignty is respected, disputes are resolved peacefully, and rules are not rewritten whenever they inconvenience the powerful," said Shashi Tharoor on India's ties with countries in a multipolar world.

"We must therefore aspire to something more consequential than navigating between competing blocs. India's growing stature should enable us to shape the principles and the institutions of the emerging order. That obviously has an important economic dimension as well," he added.

'Diplomacy is about managing competing powers', said Shashi Tharoor on India's ties with countries in a multipolar world.

"Multipolarity after all, is not synonymous with multilateralism, nor a guarantee of it. A world with more powerful actors may simply become one with more competing ambitions unless those actors can agree upon the rules that restrain the exercise of power," said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor at the NDTV World Summit. 

🔴 LIVE | On Day 2 of the #NDTVWorldSummit2026, global leaders, policymakers, economists, business leaders, thinkers, innovators and cultural voices examine a world caught between an established order and an emerging one https://t.co/xouNfjPCJ8

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 23, 2026

"India's greatest strength is its ability to combine resilience with reinvention," said Prasanna Mohile, National Head - Corporate Affairs & Executive Board Member, Pernod Ricard India at the NDTV World Summit 2026. Watch his full address here.

#NDTVWorldSummit2026 | "India's greatest strength is its ability to combine resilience with reinvention": Prasanna Mohile, National Head - Corporate Affairs & Executive Board Member, Pernod Ricard India #NDTVWorldSummit https://t.co/ZJkGUef2ei

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 23, 2026

#NDTVWorldSummit2026 | When Are We Going To See Flying Ubers? Vice President & Regional General Manager, Rides, Uber APAC, Dominic Taylor Answers @aayush_a6 | #NDTVWorldSummit https://t.co/HRW1eyrVB2

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 23, 2026

A panel of experts -- Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia; Dominic Taylor, Vice President and Regional General Manager, Rides, Uber APAC; Akis Evangelidis, Co-founder, Nothing -- discuss building the new economy in India at the NDTV World Summit 2026.

#NDTVWorldSummit2026 | Building At Scale: The New Economy of India On the panel with @aayush_a6: @puneetck, Dominic Taylor, @AkisEvangelidis https://t.co/PZu7s95Bbb

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 23, 2026

"For us it is exceptionally important that India rises and grows and creates opportunities for all its neighbours," Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Federal Minister of Finance of Nepal 

As India accelerates its ambitions in AI, semiconductors and digital technology, the decisions made today will shape the country’s place in tomorrow’s global tech order.

Joining us today at NDTV World Summit 2026, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, for a conversation on India’s technology ambitions and the race to shape the future.

#NDTVWorldSummit2026 | https://t.co/6Vji6ZCCja: When the Chips Are Up As India accelerates its ambitions in AI, semiconductors and digital technology, the decisions made today will shape the country’s place in tomorrow’s global tech order. Joining us today at #NDTVWorldSummit2026, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, for a conversation on India’s technology ambitions and the race to shape the future. Catch the session at #NDTVWorldSummit2026. More on https://t.co/AuxiLtR3PT #AshwiniVaishnaw Presented By - @VFSGlobal Co-Presented By - Raymond Powered By- @GE_Aerospace Powered By - @aspect_global_ Co-Powered By - Pernod Ricard Co-Powered By - @avaadagroup Co-Powered By - @whitegold_money State Partner - @JansamparkMP State Partner - @UPGovt State Partner - @DIPR_UK, @ukcmo Healthcare Partner - @lilavatihrc Gold Investment Partner - @goldcouncil Energy Partner - @BondadaOnline International Banking Partner - @MashreqTweets Special Partner - @UshaIntl Associate Partner - @PhonePe Associate Partner - @OfficialGMDC Nutrition Partner - Nutricircle Bespoke Partner - Vikas Chain Jewellery India Limited Cultural Luxury Partner - @RamalayaGlobal Associate Partner - @CRIF_India

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 23, 2026

Meet Tilly Norwood, the world’s first AI actor, ready to steal the spotlight and spark a big question: Can AI become a star? Will AI take centre stage in the future of entertainment? Or is there still something only humans can bring to the screen? Joining us today at the NDTV World Summit 2026, Tilly Norwood will be part of a conversation exploring the future of AI, creativity and stardom.

#NDTVWorldSummit2026 | "People have continued to give us the benefit of the doubt because they have seen that this government is absolutely serious on good governance": Dr. Swarnim Waglé (@SwarnimWagle), Federal Minister of Finance of Nepal @PadmajaJoshi | #NDTVWorldSummit https://t.co/JsmHXjWCF4

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 23, 2026

Ayatullah Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Elahi, Representative of the Supreme Leader of Iran & Senior Iranian Diplomat said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health.

"He is benefiting from very good health and he's working very nicely. Even our president mentioned that last week he had a seven-hour meeting with him," he said.

Talking about his public appearance, Elahi said, "Even some nights he comes to the street. He participated in the demonstration of the people in Iran and he's doing very nicely."

"It's not suffering, it's a genocide," said H.E. Abdullah M.A. Abushawesh, Ambassador of Palestine to India while speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2026.

"This is not our war as a Palestinian and we did not dream of being under this Israeli genocidal war. It's not only Israel: many other countries are, of course, part of this genocide, supporting Israel with weapons. Now it is not a secret that the United States of America, in one loud and clear word, is supporting and still supporting Israel with weapons. In the United Nations, where I spent 8 years, the United States of America used the veto 6 times to prevent voting and to discarnate in Gaza. It's not humanitarian suffering, it's a genocide, textbook genocide."

Abushawesh said that while 125 children were killed in Iran, 22,000 children have been "slaughtered" in Palestine. Over 5,000 Palestinians continue to be missing.

Over 160 children were killed on the first day of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The reported strike took place at a girls' elementary school, Shajareh Tayyibeh School in the town of Minab in southern Iran on the first day of the war, February 28.

Talking about the loss of innocent lives, Ayatullah Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Elahi, Representative of the Supreme Leader of Iran & Senior Iranian Diplomat said, "Till now some of the bodies of these children couldn't be found. Their mothers and also their fathers still are crying because they don't have any grave for their children to go there and cry."

Marking the beginning of academic year of Iranian schools, several parents brought books and notebooks for the children on October but there is no student, Dr Elahi said.

"Now they are suffering. Unfortunately till now the USA has't apologised for this big mistake and for attacking our primary school."

According to UN investigation, 125 children were killed in this attack.

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka to Nepal, the world is seen Gen Z movements, resulting in regime change. Sharing his analysis of the situation, Nepal Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle said "all country cases are distinct and different".

"I think, as the Chinese used to say, you don't really export revolutions, right? I don't think these things can be transplanted and copied blindly. These are born out of the distinct circumstances of the country. In our own case in Nepal, we had become from a very promising multi-party democracy in a highly diverse, heterogeneous, plural nation into a disgusting kleptocracy. It was an incestuous rotation of the same folks, unholy alliances, unprincipled combinations that didn't really care too much about creating jobs but rather about maintaining the status quo, which is their hold on power. This had, at least, really disappointed the young people and that moment of rupture was what we saw."

Dr Wagle made it clear that it was "not a planned outburst".

"There may be occasional hiccups, but we are joined at the hip", that's how Nepal's finance minister Swarnim Wagle described Delhi and Kathmandu ties.

Describing the relation as exceptionally close, the minister pointed out that no other two countries are bound together in the same way as India and Nepal. "No just by geography, we are also bound by deep cultural ties".

Generation Z, or Gen Z, are people between 1997 and 2012. Calling them "digital natives", Nepal Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle said this generation grew up with smartphones and social media. "It's a new sort of demographic composition that is not happy with the status quo."

How this unhappiness led to regime change in Nepal, Dr Wagle said, "We had this extraordinary moment last September, which was a rupture of sorts. We are fed up with the old regime. We are fed up with the old guard and we need to start afresh. There was a healthy transition period of six months, led by a former Chief Justice and a woman Prime Minister. She was able to conduct the cleanest, fairest, and most peaceful elections in Nepali history. That led to the rise of this RSP government, which had been formed by Chairman Rabi Lamichhane."

"Why would a very poor country like Nepal (it's the poorest on the continent, other than the exceptional case of Afghanistan) be borrowing money to rebuild infrastructure? The dozens of bridges, hundreds of kilometers of roads, the mager hydropower plants that are all about to generate clean electricity, private houses, the public houses: why should we be borrowing to rebuild infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed by a crisis that we contributed almost nothing to? This is a conversation that we need to have," Nepal Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle said.

Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2026, Nepal Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle shared the role of India as "first responder" not just during the recent flash floods but in the past as well.

"It was not just in the recent disaster, the Bhotekoshi River flash floods, but even in the last major disaster that we had in 2015, the earthquake that covered almost one-third of the territory, claimed 9,000 lives, and led to loss estimates of close to $8 billion to $9 billion. It was India which was the first responder. I remember in the earthquake there was a cargo flight that landed in Kathmandu within a few hours of the earthquake and this was similarly replayed this time too," he said.

Talking about the help extended by India, he said, "In total 9 cargo planes arrived with very vital humanitarian relief supplies and there were constant engagement between the leadership of the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Prime Minister Balen Shahe and placed any support that he could make."

Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2026, ex-CIA Director David Petraeus called for "rapid new concept of warfare".

"You get the general new concept of warfare and then you have to obviously make it specific to a particular possible theater of war, the same way the United States does. For example what we see in Ukraine has to then be adapted to the sustainment of deterrence in the Western Pacific. It has to be adapted for the Middle East, depending on whether it's a ground theater, an air theater, or a theater at 18,000 feet. All of this would have to be adapted to the specific circumstances.," he said.

"What we do know is that what we have done in the past is not going to succeed in the future if the enemy is adapting rapidly. I can tell you that China is going to school on Ukraine in particular and it obviously has the extraordinary manufacturing capacity. Keep in mind this is about sheer numbers of cheap attributable systems. They make, I think, 40 million DJI drones alone. By the way they're still being used. They're useful. They're a decent reconnaissance system and they're cheap," he added.

#NDTVWorldSummit2026 | "If properly programmed, a machine will execute what it is told to do and stay within the rules of engagement, better than an emotional soldier": Gen. David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), Former Director of the CIA, to @rahulkanwal @ShivAroor | @VishnuNDTV | #NDTVWorldSummit

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 23, 2026

Talking about the autonomous warfare command announced by the US, ex-CIA Director David Petraeus said it needs to perform two functions.

"It doesn't just need to develop unmanned systems forces in each of the services. It also needs to help those services themselves change the way that they need to because every aspect of warfare is different," he said.

Over 160 children were allegedly killed on the first day of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The reported strike took place at a girls' elementary school, Shajareh Tayyibeh School in the town of Minab in southern Iran on the first day of the war, February 28.

Talking about the role of AI in war, ex-CIA Director David Petraeus said machine killed children in Iran. 

"We saw the machine kill the kids in the recent battle. You saw just the sheer number of children who died because the decision was taken by military machines which had been given instructions saying that they thought this was a terror base camp. It wasn't. There were lots of children there so it scares me a little bit to hear that was actually a human judgment. That was not the machine making the decision, that I believe."

"If this is a human that decided and it was helped by AI with targeting, AI is used extensively. There have been mistakes and you've seen these in various settings in the Middle East as well as, I'm sure, in Ukraine as well. These still are humans making the final decision, in a sense, to pull the trigger or press the button," he added.

Focusing on autonomy, ex-CIA Director David Petraeus said, "How do you keep the human in the loop? The human is not in the loop anymore. The human is on the loop. The human helps develop it. That is what we are going to see at some point in time, and I've written about this, actually: autonomous systems of autonomous systems, where the actual drones themselves will be autonomous. There might be a direction to launch them, although that could even be done by an agent. Agentic AI is going to transform things."

"Urgent need for revolutionary change in militaries": CIA ex-director David Petraeus on AI in war.

"Warfare is totally transformed. Traditional manoeuvre warfare- tanks, infantry, engineers, air defence, electronic warfare, all of that, it can't survive. You basically have what could be called a kill zone or a death zone, which extends from wherever the "front line of troops" is, which is not a line anymore. By the way, if you have trenches, you can fly a drone into a trench. Anything that is exposed will be seen," said General David Petraeus, Former Director of the CIA.

"The front lines now are actually soldiers underground. They can't even see out except because they have observation devices. They are resupplied not by humans with vehicles, but by remotely driven ground vehicles and remotely piloted air vehicles. We're not yet at truly autonomous warfare. There is experimentation with systems that do not require a human to pilot or drive it but they are still very early, although we will begin to see, I think, greater numbers of that maybe by the end of this year or sometime next year," he added.

"AI can replace intellect, not emotions": Brahmavihari Swamiji, International Spokesperson of BAPS and Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.

"AI may even create phantom gods and phantom ghosts to rule over the world," Brahmavihari Swamiji, International Spokesperson of BAPS and Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. 

"It was a miscommunication on Eiffel Tower's part": BAPS' Brahmavihari Swamiji to NDTV on 'women sidelined' allegation

"As a spiritual organisation, for almost the last 10 years we have been communicating with the French government... and through all the systems and all the fair hearings and everything, they gave us a piece of land to build a temple. It's in the esplanade of religion where there's a mosque, there's a synagogue, there are two Buddhist temples, and there's our temple. Everything is fine. Everybody's happy. They gave us special permission to take out a procession through the central streets of Paris and also through the River Seine... It was one of the most amazing cultural processions that you can imagine. The Eiffel Tower people, they themselves said that if you can come to the Eiffel Tower... We did it in normal opening hours," he said, 

"As you know, when we travel by planes, we never ask women to deboard the plane. We travel by trains. They're always there; even in this whole assembly, everybody is here. But because, as monks, we observe our spiritual disciplines, which we observe but never enforce upon anybody. So, as the Eiffel Tower people, they said they were happy...But obviously, like you said, if some people want to make a sensation," Swamiji added.

"My fear isn't that one day machines will start thinking like humans, but the real fear is one day humans will start thinking like machines": Brahmavihari Swamiji, International Spokesperson of BAPS and Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.

"AI won't take over the whole of humanity, but humanity as we know it, yes," BAPS' Brahmavihari Swamiji on possible AI apocalypse. 

"AI is not just another invention, but a reinvention of life": Brahmavihari Swamiji, International Spokesperson of BAPS and Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.

"We are on the verge of inventing a new species... That till now, washing machines did not reproduce smaller washing machines to help them with the chores of daily life. Artificial intelligence will have agents that they create. Till now, no car reproduced itself into smaller cars. Artificial intelligence is actually reproducing on its own. It has a mind of its own," said Brahmavihari Swamiji , International Spokesperson of BAPS and Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.

As conversations continue on Day 2 of the NDTV World Summit, the focus sharpens on the intersection of technology, security, and economic growth. Artificial intelligence is also a key theme, with discussions on AI-generated actors, the risks the technology poses, and its implications for cybersecurity, as former CIA director General David Petraeus explains how AI is rewriting the battlefield.

Other sessions are also examining the future of the Middle East, India-Nepal economic ties and India's ambition to become a research superpower.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will also speak on India's semiconductor ambitions, while RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra will address whether the country can sustain its growth advantage amid global uncertainty. The second day will also feature Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on the emerging world order, discussions on the future of work and the role of women in sport, and a closing conversation with actor, producer and entrepreneur Kriti Sanon.

Together, the sessions will continue to explore how countries, businesses and societies are responding to a world in transition - and the choices that could shape what comes next.

#NDTVWorldSummit | From The World's Back Office To Its Brain Office: PM @narendramodi Says India Is Powering The Next Tech Revolution #NDTVWorldSummit2026 https://t.co/L4H1WbxVjv

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

#NDTVWorldSummit | "When India's economy becomes stronger, it gives the world an assurance of prosperity": PM @narendramodi #NDTVWorldSummit2026 https://t.co/FLBcY8IqIN

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

#NDTVWorldSummit | "Cooperation, dialogue crucial": PM @narendramodi on shaping the new global order #NDTVWorldSummit2026 https://t.co/J1fXPZNU1x

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

"India is today among the leading nations for digital innovation and startup ecosystems, remaining the world's fastest-growing major economy. Bharat is motivating the world toward collective development," says PM Modi. 

"Despite widespread discontent and fragmentation across the world, India continued to step forward and assist over 100 countries with vaccines and medicines during their times of need. We didn't do this to hold it over anyone's head but simply out of genuine goodwill and a spirit of global cooperation," says PM Modi

#NDTVWorldSummit | Welcome address by NDTV CEO & Editor-In-Chief @RahulKanwal #NDTVWorldSummit2026 https://t.co/rVg0AxjU4o

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

#NDTVWorldSummit | "On every visit to India, I see the same thing- a relationship that has grown so wide that it has become a partnership that no longer needs a signing ceremony in order to grow": UAE Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri https://t.co/WaOmreB1AA

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

#NDTVWorldSummit | "26/11 should serve as a reminder of the enormity of what is being done to us and the necessity for us to respond. And believe me, when you respond the world will take note of it, when you don't respond the world will play games": EAM @DrSJaishankar #NDTVWorldSummit2026 @rahulkanwal @AdityaRajKaul

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

"Of course, I want good relations with Pakistan. I want good relations with all our neighbours. But will I overlook terrorism for good relations? Absolutely not," says Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India.

#NDTVWorldSummit | "Today, it's a world of chokepoints, a world of almost 'hostage ticket' that countries are using leverages and instruments they have with much less reticents and even responsibilities at times": EAM @DrSJaishankar #NDTVWorldSummit2026 @rahulkanwal @AdityaRajKaul

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

"Countries can no longer take stability in trade, energy, and geopolitics for granted, as the world has become increasingly turbulent and unpredictable. Governments and businesses must factor this volatility into their planning and build resilient strategies around it. Much like portfolio management in volatile markets, we need to avoid overdependence on a single source and instead diversify across multiple options. Growing uncertainty around trade, energy supplies, sanctions, conflicts, and resource restrictions has prompted nations to fundamentally reassess their energy sourcing strategies," says Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India.

"Well, it's never done until it's done. As you've heard not just from Secretary Rubio, but from Minister Piyush Goyal and others, including myself, we are moving towards an agreement. However, the last few miles often pose significant challenges, and the teams are working through them now. As for the exact nature of those challenges, I'm afraid I can't disclose that-it is up to the negotiators to sort out," says Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India.

"Going out of Delhi to meet a foreign leader is summoning? I can give you a lot of examples. Mrs Gandhi went to Shimla. Let's have an adult conversation," says Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India.

Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of upskilling Indian youth, this partnership is a 10-year commitment designed to nurture 100 promising young Indians over the next decade. Every single year, ten selected scholars will gain invaluable practical media experience alongside immersive international exposure across different global markets. And as the official sponsor, VFS Global will leverage its massive network, spanning over 170 countries, giving these scholars direct access to diverse cultures, markets, and global perspectives.

Addressing the major feat of winning the trust of 70 governments, Zubin Karkaria shares, “This is a very high-security business. That's why most of the governments that we have have been with us for over 20 years.” He believes that the company’s physical presence in 169 countries is a major benefit. “We have 10,000 audits a year, internal and external, through governments and our own,” he added.

“India would be the top two countries as a source market for students for universities around the world, I would say. It can become number one soon,” Zubin Karkaria says. Traditionally and even today, Indian students mostly consider going to go to the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the UK. But in the last two years, the number of students travelling to the European countries is growing substantially, almost by 60 to 70 per cent, year on year. Addressing the reason behind this rise, Zubin Karkaria explained that students are getting more and more conscious about the course that they are going for and the content of the course.

Zubin Karkaria believes that there is resilience in travel and that the world is not becoming difficult to navigate for the right people. He says, "We have gone through SARS, H1N1, COVID, and geopolitical tension, but we have always come out very resilient. So people will travel.” “When you look at the size, you know, if you look at the last WTTC report, the travel and tourism contribution is 12 trillion dollars. And one in nine jobs is in the travel and tourism industry, directly or indirectly,” he added.

"We operate only in Bombay, and one of the best things about Bombay is what the government is doing in terms of infrastructure spending. So Bombay is becoming a far better city to live in. The traffic has dissipated. The new micro-markets are coming up. The demand is coming from other people who are moving to Bombay, says Gautam Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, Raymond Group

#NDTVWorldSummit | "Sri Lanka will never lose its competitive edge in trade": Chathuranga Abeysinghe (@Chathurangaab), Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sri Lanka; adds "Sri Lanka will never go down the path that it has gone" #NDTVWorldSummit2026 @niraj_shah

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

"The real change that's going to come from the efforts that we are putting in to get our infrastructure right because of growth. We are moving from stability to growth. Most of the infrastructure projects were stalled for about 6 years since 2019. Now we have started all of them, and they are moving very fast. And the legal reforms that are related to investments and governance were another requirement for the country to be stable and consistent," says Chaturanga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development. 

"We came out of an economic crisis since 2022, and India greatly supported us with a lot of financial assistance and was there for us in all these difficult years. So I would like to give my gratitude and thanks to the people of India," says Chaturanga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development. 

"Jamavar itself sort of hails from Kashmir, and it has a design aspect to it. So I don't think we looked at it as an ethnic restaurant in any way," Samyukta Nair explained. She added that with time, the details of the restaurant have certainly changed. She added, "But today when you go in there and you see it, it's a very different world from 2006."

Vir Sanghvi explained that hundreds of Bangladeshis opened really bad restaurants, serving dishes they've made up in London, and it has impacted the reputation of Indian food in Britain. He added that these are dishes which no Indian would dream of eating.

At the NDTV World Summit 2026, Michelin Star chef Himanshu Saini spoke about a time, about 25 years ago, when people chose to become a chef if they couldn't do anything else. And that's how he became one too. "But now the scenario is changing around. The parents who are letting their kids follow their dreams," he added.

"What we are doing in support of Ukraine is also about defending our own security", said Jasper Wieck, Ambassador of Germany to India.

"India is no longer a spectator. It is ready to move from non-alignment to multi-alignment, from passive to active [role]. But, with a greater role comes greater responsibility. We very much welcome the higher profile," said Antonio Bartoli, Italian Ambassador to India, on India's growing diplomatic presence.

"It is not on us to judge the mix of security alliances of other nations," said Jasper Wieck, Ambassador of Germany to India, on India-Russia ties

🔴#LIVE | Watch #NDTVWorldSummit2026 as global leaders, thinkers and innovators decode a world in transition, exploring geopolitics, the global economy, AI, technology, security and India’s growing role in shaping the future, followed by a special address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key leaders https://t.co/QBWDNs9R5K

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

Software engineering is among the professions most affected by AI, said computer scientist Andrew Ng at the NDTV World Summit.

"If you keep learning new skills, jobs will be there": Computer scientist and DeepLearning.AI Founder Andrew Ng on AI and layoffs fear.

AI funding is about to dry up, said Nikhil Kamath, warning that the AI funding boom won't last.

"Raise money now, it's about to get harder," he said, predicting a correction in private market valuations for AI startups as investors start demanding real revenue over hype.

On AI and jobs, Nikhil Kamath said India's core advantage hasn't changed. "Labour arbitrage isn't dead, AI has just upgraded it. India's edge in the AI era is still cheap talent," he said, adding that the country should lean into its services strength while it builds product capabilities.

On his personal philosophy, Nikhil Kamath struck a reflective note."Nobody knows what they want from life," he said. "The people I find most appealing are the ones who are not certain."

The 40-year-old billionaire said he is no longer chasing scale or status. "I am optimising for freedom and peace of mind," he added.

On market speculation, the Zerodha co-founder defended the role of traders."Speculators provide a very valuable resource in a modern market. They should not be reprimanded," Nikhil Kamath said.

He, however, questioned privileged market access. "Should colocation exist? In my view, no. Every retail investor should get a level playing field," he said, referring to the practice where trading firms place servers close to exchange servers for faster execution.

Nikhil Kamath called for a shift in how traders are taxed. He said that instead of taxing every transaction through Securities Transaction Tax (STT), and stamp duties, the government should tax final income.

"In a direct message to India's wealthy, Nikhil Kamath said rising inequality is unsustainable.

"Fix inequality, before you're forced to," he said, adding that philanthropy and wider wealth distribution are no longer optional if social stability is to be maintained.

"The money going into AI and the money going out of AI: there is a big gap in between. I think maybe now $1 trillion a year is going into AI. The amount of money coming out of AI, through the enterprise way, is maybe between $100 billion and $200 billion. That gap of $700 billion, $800 billion a year has to be bridged from somewhere," Nikhil Kamath said.

"If one were to argue, in the last cycle, I don't know, the Middle East: a lot of oil money went into AI. A lot of foreign capital went into AI in America and took these bets. To find that new capital every year, and this is significant, right? This is like $1 trillion of fresh money; it's tough."

"I don't know if I've seen that happen on the ground yet. For next year, with American Treasury rates going up and the cost of money going to 5%, 6%, 7% (I don't know where it'll go; it's at 5% today), somebody has to bridge this gap up until that $5 trillion revenue story plays out. Even if it does or it doesn't, nobody knows. In the interim, I think it will become harder to get money than it has been this year or last year. If somebody is able to raise a lot of capital today and keep it, probably not a bad idea," he added.

"If I were 17 today, I'd probably build something around the technological changes happening in the West": Investor and Entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath on what he would do if he were starting out now.

"The aspiration is to build a new kind of social media. We have been experimenting with different applications...Like China has its own version of everything... I wouldn't be surprised if more of the world goes in that direction and, at some point in time, India might have its own social media. India might have its own version of everything American. We're trying to build something with that world in mind, but hopefully also something that can travel outside of India and not just be restricted to it," said Nikhil Kamath.

Investor and Entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath noted that while China claims not to be capitalist, it almost feels like the state is capitalist in itself. "Every municipality or the mayor of each province competes with another province like he were a capitalist organisation. There are many dichotomies in China. They say one thing, and they do another. You take land ownership, for example. People are not allowed to own land but have long leases. It's like owning land," the Zerodha founder noted.

"The one thing that maybe we can change and learn from China (I feel like we should learn from whoever has done something well) is to allow for different provinces or states. India has 28. Why not have each state compete with another like they were a capitalistic organization itself? Maybe the chief minister of a state could operate like the CEO of the state. It would be possible if the upside of the winnings of that capitalistic endeavour were also allowed to remain with the state. Maybe that's something we can question structurally and see if it makes sense for India, and maybe that's one thing we can learn from China," he added.

🔴#LIVE | Watch #NDTVWorldSummit2026 as global leaders, thinkers and innovators decode a world in transition, exploring geopolitics, the global economy, AI, technology, security and India’s growing role in shaping the future, followed by a special address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key leaders https://t.co/QBWDNs9R5K

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

"Caps on pricing for extremely expensive diseases are crucial. Insurance companies need to be convinced of this. We should schedule more meetings with them. The medical field is more than just a business; it's about lives, and we have emotional connections to this issue," said Rajiv Mehta.

"Prevention is the best form of medicine. A lot of issues can be sorted out. It's like a timely service of a car, which helps it function well. Similarly, regular check-ups are mandatory for better health," says Lilavati Trustee Rajiv Mehta.

Rajiv K. Mehta, Permanent Trustee for Life at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre, is speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2026 in a session titled "Building Community Resilience through Health and Livelihood". The discussion focuses on the role healthcare institutions can play beyond hospital walls, from preventive healthcare and awareness to community outreach and improving access to medical services.

"India should target 40 per cent electrification over the next decade," said Vineet Mittal, Avaada Group founder.

🔴#LIVE | Watch #NDTVWorldSummit2026 as global leaders, thinkers and innovators decode a world in transition, exploring geopolitics, the global economy, AI, technology, security and India’s growing role in shaping the future, followed by a special address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key leaders https://t.co/QBWDNs9R5K

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

Djalal Khimdjee, CEO of Africa50's Principal Investment Fund, said the demographic trends show that by the end of the 21st century, half of the global population will be either Indian or African.

🔴#LIVE | Watch #NDTVWorldSummit2026 as global leaders, thinkers and innovators decode a world in transition, exploring geopolitics, the global economy, AI, technology, security and India’s growing role in shaping the future, followed by a special address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key leaders https://t.co/QBWDNs9R5K

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

"Last year, over 40 per cent of gold usage was financial. That means gold worth $6 trillion was traded," said Sachin Jain, Regional CEO, India, World Gold Council. He added, "Gold is a long-term asset."

#NDTVWorldSummit2026 | "Last year, over 40 per cent of gold usage was financial. That means gold worth $6 trillion was traded": Sachin Jain, Regional CEO- India, World Gold Council (@GOLDCOUNCIL); adds "gold is a long term asset" @alexandermats #NDTVWorldSummit https://t.co/wO70BQbg1x

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

🔴#LIVE | Watch #NDTVWorldSummit2026 as global leaders, thinkers and innovators decode a world in transition, exploring geopolitics, the global economy, AI, technology, security and India’s growing role in shaping the future, followed by a special address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key leaders https://t.co/QBWDNs9R5K

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026

"When we treat things, people, and AIs with dignity, we learn to treat ourselves and others with dignity also... Because these AIs are imitating human personalities, if you deal with them as if they are human personalities, they work better. You've spoken at length about consciousness, and that's the only thing that distinguishes AI from a person," Swami Sarvapriyananda said at the NDTV World Summit. 

Swami Sarvapriyananda, the New York monk whom Anthropic flew to San Francisco to discuss consciousness, says the artificial intelligence could be the fourth "great humiliation to humanity".

He recalled Sigmund Freud's theory of three great "narcissistic wounds" or humiliations that science inflicted on human self-love and ego, which include when Nicolaus Copernicus showed that the Earth is not the centre of the universe, Charles Darwin showing that humans were not specially created apart from nature and Freud himself showing that the conscious ego is "not master in its own house". 

Sarvapriyananda said AI could be the fourth great humiliation of humanity. "We thought we were the creative intelligence. Now we see that AI can do what the greatest human mind can do better."

"We are at a critical moment. We have to ask ourselves what is that which distinguishes us, makes us unique? Where should we invest ourselves?" he said.

Swami Sarvapriyananda is the New York monk whom Anthropic flew to San Francisco to discuss consciousness. Now he's in New Delhi to discuss if 'Can Code Be Conscious? Rethinking the Mind in the Age of AI' at the NDTV World Summit 2026.

"You have to put in time into a relationship. So, this like having a relationship with your instrument. I didn't party, go to movies or shopping. I had no friends growing up. I just had school and music. Discipline is important for success," she said.

Mohini Dey, whose father was a bass player, said her music is the representation of "my foundation, which is Mumbai, India".

"I am fortunate to be born in India where we have so many different cultures... We have mosques and temples existing with each other. We don't judge, we respect each other," she said at the NDTV World Summit 2026. 

Read the full story here.

Bassist Mohini Dey enthralled the audience and panellists at the NDTV World Summit 2026 with her band, performing some of her hit tracks, including The Dey Way.

"Please continue to support independent musicians," she said.

Bass player and composer Mohini Dey says she went shopping in Delhi after she came to India from New York. Born and brought up in Mumbai, the musician said she started working at the age of nine. Mohini Dey, now 29, said she migrated to the US around recently.

"I moved to the US because people told me I need to explore the world. I have played with a lot of artists, such as AR Rahman and Salim-Suleiman. Now, I've been touring with my world tour for the past three years," she said.

Mohini Dey, who was accompanied by her mother, opened the NDTV World Summit 2026 with a song she wrote as a child.

Mohini Dey is performing at the NDTV World Summit with her band. Dey was born and brought up in Mumbai. Dey received her first bass guitar when she was nine. She started performing at the age of 11. Her talent was noticed by her father's friend Ranjit Barot, who took her on his band's tours. She was also mentored by jazz exponent Louis Banks.

Watch her performance live here

Bassist Mohini Dey has taken to the NDTV World Summit stage.

When one of the biggest AI companies in the world, Anthropic, wanted to know how an AI should tell right from wrong, one of the people it turned to was a Hindu monk in New York, Swami Sarvapriyananda. At the company's headquarters in San Francisco, the monk was invited along with other religious thinkers from different faiths for discussions centred on questions of AI ethics and the training of its frontier models.

Swami Sarvapriyananda is now coming to New Delhi on October 22 to speak at the NDTV World Summit 2026 on 'Can Code Be Conscious? Rethinking the Mind in the Age of AI'.

The NDTV World Summit 2026 will begin at 10 am on Thursday, October 22, with a high-energy performance by Mohini Day, bassist and music composer. Watch the event live on YouTube and Live TV.

Kriti Sanon is all set to be part of the NDTV World Summit 2026, which will take place in New Delhi on October 22 and 23. The actor, who has built a successful career in Hindi cinema, has also ventured into entrepreneurship and film production over the past few years. She will address a session titled "The Making Of A Modern Star"

Kriti Sanon made her acting debut in the 2014 Telugu film 1: Nenokkadine, directed by Sukumar and starring Mahesh Babu in the lead role. The same year, she made her Bollywood debut with Heropanti, which also marked the acting debut of Tiger Shroff. 

After that, she appeared in many movies like Bareilly Ki Barfi, Luka Chuppi, Housefull 4, Bachchhan Paandey, Bhediya, Shehzada, Adipurush, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, Crew and Do Patti.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs in the United Arab Emirates, is set to attend the NDTV World Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan holds the post of the Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs in the UAE.

He is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, a network of 14 affiliated philanthropic organisations, including the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, the Khalifa Foundation, and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

He also serves as the head of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council.

The day we've been waiting for is finally here. A world between orders. A stage for ideas that shape tomorrow.

From global leaders and policymakers to innovators, visionaries and changemakers, NDTV World Summit 2026 brings together some of the finest minds from around the world for conversations that matter. Follow live updates here.

🌍 The day we've been waiting for is finally here. A world between orders. A stage for ideas that shape tomorrow. From global leaders and policymakers to innovators, visionaries and changemakers, #NDTVWorldSummit2026 brings together some of the finest minds from around the world for conversations that matter. 📍 New Delhi 📅 October 22–23 📺 Watch only on NDTV @VishnuNDTV #NDTVWorldSummit2026 Presented By - @VFSGlobal Co-Presented By - Raymond Powered By- @GE_Aerospace Powered By - @aspect_global_ Co-Powered By - Pernod Ricard Co-Powered By - @avaadagroup Co-Powered By - @whitegold_money State Partner - @JansamparkMP State Partner - @UPGovt State Partner - @DIPR_UK, @ukcmo Healthcare Partner - @lilavatihrc Gold Investment Partner - @goldcouncil Energy Partner - @BondadaOnline International Banking Partner - @MashreqTweets Special Partner - @UshaIntl Associate Partner - @PhonePe Associate Partner - @OfficialGMDC Nutrition Partner - Nutricircle Bespoke Partner - Vikas Chain Jewellery India Limited Cultural Luxury Partner - @RamalayaGlobal Associate Partner - @CRIF_India

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2026