As artificial intelligence continues to reshape global creative industries, the question of who will lead the next phase of entertainment has taken renewed urgency. Against this backdrop, a high-level pre-summit event titled ‘India, AI, and the Next Global Shift: Who Owns the Future of Entertainment?’ will be held on January 13, 2026, in New Delhi as an official lead-up to the AI Impact Summit 2026.

The half-day conclave will take place from 1.30 pm to 5 pm at the FICCI Conference Room, Federation House, and will bring together policymakers, legal experts, creators, and industry leaders from across the media and entertainment ecosystem. The event aims to examine how India can position itself as a global hub for AI-enabled creative production while balancing innovation with the protection of creators’ rights.

The programme will begin with registration and networking tea, followed by a welcome address and context-setting session by Dr. Ashish S. Kulkarni, Founder of Punnaryug Artvision Pvt Ltd. The discussions are expected to set the tone for deeper conversations around AI’s growing role in creative production, distribution, and ownership.

The first panel discussion, titled ‘Policy That Performs: Unlocking AI’s Creative Potential,’ will focus on the policy and regulatory frameworks shaping the use of AI in media and entertainment. With issues such as copyright, ownership of training data, attribution, and remuneration becoming increasingly central, the session will explore how India can craft a legal approach that safeguards creators while encouraging innovation and global competitiveness. The session will be chaired by James Cheatley, Vice President – VOD, Digital Affairs and Intellectual Property (APAC) at the Motion Picture Association, and will feature speakers including Dr. G.R. Raghavender, Shibasish Sarkar, Avinash Pandey, Mira Chatt, Blaise Fernandes, and Ameet Datta.

Following a brief changeover, the second panel, ‘How Can AI Enhance Creativity and Competitiveness in India’s M&E Industry?’, will turn attention to practical applications of AI across the value chain. From scriptwriting and music composition to animation, VFX, and distribution, the session will examine how AI is transforming creative workflows and enabling India to move up the global value curve. Chaired by Vivan Sharan, Partner at Koan Advisory, the panel will include Andrew Ure of Netflix, Akash Saxena of JioStar, Pankaj Kumar Mishra of SPNI, Mihir Rale of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Vikram Malhotra of Abundantia Entertainment, and Anant Roongta of Famous Studios.

The event will conclude with closing reflections by Dr. Ashish S. Kulkarni, who will outline the way forward for India’s AI-driven creative economy. The pre-summit meet is positioned as a key platform for shaping thought leadership ahead of the AI Impact Summit 2026, bringing critical conversations on policy, creativity, and competitiveness to the forefront of India’s media and entertainment discourse.