By: Vandana Jhingan

In partnership with Seattle University (SU), the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Seattle co-hosted a pre-summit briefing on the forthcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026 at the Casey Commons Conference Hall on January 12, 2026. Centered on the theme “People, Planet, and Progress,” the session highlighted India’s AI vision focused on social good, sustainable development, and inclusive economic growth. The well-attended program drew a large number of Seattle University students and senior faculty, offering a comprehensive overview of India’s rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.

The keynote address was delivered by Matt Oppenheimer, CEO of the global remittance platform Remitly, who shared the company’s experience investing in India’s AI-driven growth and emphasized how reforms in Ease of Doing Business have strengthened Remitly’s Bengaluru operations. Prof. Onur Bakiner, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Technology Ethics Initiative at Seattle University, addressed the ethical challenges and opportunities shaping the AI era. Delivering the inaugural remarks, the Consul General of India in Seattle outlined preparations for the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and briefed participants on the high-level delegation expected from the Greater Seattle region.

This briefing marked the second event in a series across the Greater Seattle Area ahead of the Summit. Earlier, CGI Seattle hosted a pre-event briefing on November 7, 2025, at the Consulate, featuring U.S. Representatives Adam Smith and Michael Baumgartner, along with senior leaders from Microsoft, Salesforce, and Anicca Data Science Solutions. Together, these engagements underscore growing collaboration between India’s AI ecosystem and U.S. policymakers, academia, and industry leaders.