The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has unveiled a dynamic showcase of India’s AI-driven media and creative ecosystem at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, positioning the country as a global leader in responsible and culturally rooted artificial intelligence innovation.
Set up at Bharat Mandapam, the MIB Pavilion is hosting a series of panels, masterclasses, startup showcases and immersive technology demonstrations, spotlighting the transformative impact of AI across film, broadcasting, gaming, digital content and public communication.
51 Startups Take Centre Stage
A major highlight of the Pavilion is the WAVES Creators Corner at the India AI Impact Expo 2026, where 51 startups from India’s AVGC-XR and MediaTech sectors are presenting AI-powered innovations.
The exhibits range from a Zero-Touch Autonomous Newsroom and multilingual dubbing tools under “Bhasha-Wall,” to AI sign language avatars, immersive storytelling platforms, AI podcast studios, conversational humanoid robots and voice-cloning technologies. Winners of the Bhashasetu and Kalaasetu challenges are also demonstrating AI tools designed to preserve cultural heritage and enhance linguistic accessibility.
All sessions from the WAVES Creators Corner are being live-streamed on WAVES OTT, the digital platform of Prasar Bharati, expanding the Summit’s reach beyond the venue.
Startup-focused programming is being curated by YourStory, with founder and CEO Shradha Sharma moderating discussions on AI sovereignty, social impact innovation and founder-led pitches. Panels throughout the week are focusing on governance, national security, women in AI, and Bharat-centric innovation emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
AI Meets Cinema and Storytelling
In collaboration with Adobe, the Ministry is also presenting “Kathāvatār,” a curated showcase of five Made-in-India AI short films inspired by Indian folklore. Screened at the AI Theatre within WAVES Creators Corner, the films highlight how emerging filmmakers are blending artificial intelligence with cultural storytelling.
Adobe is additionally hosting a session titled “The Future of Film: AI, Creativity, and Craft,” exploring evolving AI-powered production workflows and new creative practices. A Content Creation Hub powered by Adobe is demonstrating AI-led video creation tools designed to accelerate production and enhance scalability for modern creators.
Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur is scheduled to conduct a masterclass examining the evolution of filmmaking in the AI era and the importance of preserving cultural authenticity in technologically enhanced storytelling.
AI Immersive Theatre and Cinematic Innovation
A centrepiece of the Pavilion is the AI Immersive Theatre, a 270-degree projection space combining spatial design with AI-powered narratives to create fully interactive cinematic experiences. The showcase includes curated AI films and finalists from the CinemAI Hackathon at the International Film Festival of India.
The initiative is being led by the National Film Development Corporation and Waves Bazaar under the Ministry, reinforcing India’s ambition to lead in responsible AI-driven cinema.
Policy, Sovereignty and Responsible AI
Beyond creative experimentation, the Pavilion also serves as a policy dialogue space. Discussions throughout the Summit are examining AI sovereignty, indigenous development, data governance and national security.
The Ministry said the broader objective is to project India not merely as a consumer of global AI technologies but as a creator of scalable, socially relevant solutions rooted in its developmental priorities and cultural diversity.
With government leaders, startups, creators and global delegates converging under one roof, the MIB Pavilion is positioning India’s AI ecosystem as both innovative and accountable – blending technology, storytelling and policy vision to shape the future of artificial intelligence on India’s terms.
