AI summit: How AI is solving energy and accessibility in the global south

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the global conversation around Artificial Intelligence was largely dominated by abstract anxieties about artificial general intelligence and the future of work. Yet, quietly released alongside the main stage panels were a series of AI Impact Casebooks that told a radically different story. While the summit was guided by the “sutras” of People, Planet, and Progress, nowhere was this triad more practically demonstrated than in the sectoral AI Impact Casebooks focusing on two seemingly disparate domains: Energy and Accessibility.

Developed by the IndiaAI Mission in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Ministry of Power, ALIMCO, IIIT-B, and the ChangeInkk Foundation, these compendia prove that AI’s most profound impact is already happening. From stabilising complex national power grids to restoring independent mobility for the visually impaired, these casebooks demonstrate that AI is not just a tool for economic efficiency, but a vital instrument for planetary survival alongside human dignity.

The planet: Rewiring the energy ecosystem

The global energy sector is undergoing a massive structural shift, balancing the urgent need for decarbonisation with surging electricity demand—which in India has grown by nearly 50% between 2020 and 2025. The Energy Casebook, developed in partnership with the IEA, underscores that managing this new, highly decentralised, and variable energy ecosystem is beyond human cognitive capacity alone.

The innovations highlighted in this compendium are hard-engineered solutions. Take Pravh, an AI-native decision support engine deployed by utilities in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi. India’s electricity distribution sector has historically been plagued by aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, which weaken utility finances and raise costs. Pravh uses AI-assisted load flow models to simulate real operating conditions, localising losses down to specific overloaded conductors or anomalous consumption patterns, effectively modernising power distribution.

Similarly, Smart Grid Analytics showcases Solvyn AURA, a platform that tackles the intermittent nature of renewable energy. By unifying solar/wind generation, battery storage, and energy trading into a single AI-driven decision loop, it predicts near-term generation and market price movements, improving forecast reliability to an astonishing 95%.

AI is also optimising the fuels of the future and the transport of today. In Karnataka, the BIOLOOP system is deployed in biorefineries to autonomously adjust reactor parameters, stabilising the production of next-generation fuels. This low-cost AI intervention increased biofuel output by 18-27% and green hydrogen production by 14-22% while cutting energy consumption by up to 15%. Meanwhile, in the transport sector, Kazam EV Tech is using predictive digital twins to manage electric bus depots. By optimising “slow versus fast” charging mixes based on grid constraints and mission readiness, their AI system increased fleet uptime to 92% and slashed peak demand charges by 22%.

These cases prove that AI is an absolute necessity for ensuring that the Global South can leapfrog to a sustainable energy future without sacrificing reliability or affordability.

The people: Restoring autonomy and dignity

If the Energy casebook addresses the macro-infrastructure of the planet, the Accessibility Casebook targets the micro-realities of daily human life. Developed with the ALIMCO, IIIT-Bangalore, and ChangeInkk Foundation, this compendium focuses on 16% of the global population living with disabilities. For this demographic, technology is often designed as an afterthought, with inaccessible interfaces creating a digital divide that strips away autonomy.

The innovations curated here represent a paradigm shift: they are offline, frugal, and multimodal. For the visually impaired, the PathPal edge-AI system is a revelation. Built specifically for the chaotic, low-resource environments of the Global South, PathPal operates entirely offline. It allows users to point their smartphone at handwritten notices, printed text, or even Indian currency notes and receive instant spoken feedback in their preferred language—crucial for independent financial transactions and mobility in areas with spotty internet.

In the realm of education and professional development, the SMARTON platform is breaking down massive barriers. Standard optical character recognition (OCR) fails on complex documents, but SMARTON uses advanced computer vision to understand document structure, reading tables row-by-row and converting visual layouts like diagrams and charts into structured audio explanations. Deployed across schools and NGOs, it serves over 15,000 users, proving that inclusive education is achievable at scale.

The casebook also highlights Torchit’s powerful AI ecosystem. Shruti AI bridges the communication gap for the deaf by providing real-time voice-to-Indian Sign Language translation. Meanwhile, Vaani AI offers augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) support for individuals with autism or speech impairments, utilising intent prediction and contextual prompts to help users communicate daily needs and reduce caregiver dependence.

Physical rehabilitation is also being transformed. Pheezee, an AI-powered wearable, uses surface electromyography (sEMG) to quantify muscle recovery for patients suffering from strokes or amputations. Already deployed in prestigious institutions like AIIMS Delhi and NIMHANS Bangalore, it has helped over 5,000 patients by turning subjective physical therapy assessments into objective, data-driven recovery plans.

The architecture of equitable progress

The most striking takeaway from the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is not the sheer computational power of the models presented, but their profound pragmatism. The AI Impact Casebooks on Energy and Accessibility serve as operational blueprints for policymakers globally.

They shatter the illusion that AI is a luxury reserved for the wealthy. Whether it is an algorithm managing the complex charge cycles of an electric bus fleet to keep cities moving, or a localised, offline AI reading a currency note so a visually impaired citizen can confidently buy groceries, these tools are fundamentally redefining the social contract.

As the world transitions to a digital and green economy, these casebooks provide the definitive proof that technology, when guided by purpose, empathy, and rigorous engineering, can power our planet while profoundly empowering its people.

(Bhanu Potta is presently the Senior Advisor at Birla AI Labs, and the Founding Partner at ZingerLabs.)

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Published – February 20, 2026 03:03 pm IST