Technology in Practice
Explore how AI assistants, agents and automation are changing the way organisations work.
4th EditionHotel Samrat, New Delhi28th November 2026
The AI Payoff Summit 2026
Deriving Business Value from New-Age AI Technologies
What worked, what didn’t, and what’s next.
In collaboration with
What worked, what didn’t, and what’s next.
The AI Payoff Summit 2026
About the Summit
The AI Payoff Summit 2026 brings technology, enterprise and policy together to connect emerging AI capabilities with enterprise experience and examine what worked, what fell short and what comes next.
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The AI Payoff Summit 2026 brings together technology leaders, business leaders and AI practitioners to examine what new age AI technologies are delivering in practice. Guided by the theme “Deriving Business Value from New Age AI Technologies,” it connects enterprise experience with the decisions shaping the next phase of adoption. The programme considers emerging AI capabilities through the business problems they solve, from assistants that support individual tasks to agents that execute multistep workflows. It examines what has worked, what has fallen short and which opportunities merit further investment.
The Business Perspective
Examine where AI capabilities align with business needs, what delivered results and what merits further investment.
People, Policy and Trust
Bring enterprise and policy perspectives together on security, workforce readiness and human judgment.
Speakers
Who’s on stage?
Meet the speakers at The AI Payoff Summit 2026.
28 speakers
All speakers
Sh. Vinamra Mishra
Joint Secretary
Ministry of MSME, Government of India
Dr. Panneerselvam Madanagopal
Chief Executive Officer
MeitY Startup Hub
Neetan Chopra
Chief Digital and Information Officer
IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation)
Parna Ghosh
President, Group Chief Information Officer and Data Protection Officer
Uno Minda
Dr. Kamal Karnatak
Group CIO and Enterprise AI Leader
RJ Corp
Nikhil Malhotra
Chief AI and Innovation Officer
Tech Mahindra
Vinod Sivarama Krishnan
Chief Information Officer
Birlasoft
Amit Pradhan
Chief Information Officer
Dixon Technologies
Vipin Kumar
Chief Information Officer (Global)
UFLEX Group
Sandeep Rajoriya
Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade
Government of India
Sunil Pandey
Chief AI and Digital Officer
HFCL Limited
Binu Lakshmanan
Enterprise IT and AI-DX Leader
Honda Cars India
Harnath Babu
Partner and Chief Information Officer
KPMG
Anandarup Basu
Global CIO
Usha International
Gyan Gupta
Chief AI Officer
Jindal Steel
Mudit Krishna
Head of AI
JK Cement
Abhishek Bansal
Chief Information Security Officer
Max Life Insurance
Ankit Gupta
Chief Technology Officer
PolicyBazaar for Business
Dr K P S Sandhu
Global Head – Strategic Initiatives, Cybersecurity
TCS
Yogendra Singh
Chief Information Officer
Barista Coffee Company
Vishal Jain
Head of IT Infrastructure and Security
Del Monte Foods Private Limited
Munender Soperna
Group Chief Digital and Information Officer
Dr. Lal PathLabs
Dhananjay Khanna
Executive Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer
SBI Card
Tarun Anand
Group Chief Information Officer
Jakson Group
Amandeep Sarna
Chief Digital and Information Officer
ITC Hotels
Arun Goyal
CIO
Gangaram Hospital
Manas Mehra
Global Chief Information Officer
Dabur India Limited
Samarth Suri
Managing Director
Quality Asia Certifications
The AI Payoff Summit 2026
Strategic Advisory Board
Meet the Strategic Advisory Board for The AI Payoff Summit 2026.
Meet the board
Sh. Vinamra Mishra
Joint Secretary
Ministry of MSME, Government of India
Prof. Sartaj Sahni
Distinguished Professor, Computer & Information Science & Engineering
University of Florida, USA
Pankaj Rai
Group Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Aditya Birla Group
Shagun Chaudhary
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Adani Digital
Geetha Adinarayan
Distinguished Engineer & CTO
IBM Consulting, India and South Asia
Sharad Bajaj
Vice President of Engineering, Agent 365
Microsoft, Seattle, USA
Prakash Sah
Managing Partner & Head, Data, Analytics & AI, Manufacturing
Tata Consultancy Services
Ashish Sood
Director Engineering, SDWAN Analytics and AI/ML
Cisco, California, USA
Prof. Dr. Mohit Kumar
Professor (apl.) of Computational Intelligence in Automation
University of Rostock, Germany
Kuljeet Singh
Senior AI Architect and Product Owner
Hitachi Digital Services
Dr. Narayan Panigrahi
Outstanding Scientist (Retd.)
DRDO
Samriti Kumar Garg
Group Director, Sci/Engr-G
Space Applications Centre, ISRO
Portrait announced soon
Exhibit at The AI Payoff Summit 2026
Why exhibit with us
Put your solution where AI buying decisions are made, in front of the people who make them.
View booth details- Meet buyers face to face
- Demo, don't just describe
- Conversations through the day
28th November 2026 · Hotel Samrat, New Delhi
From pilot to payoff
What will you take away?
AI in practice from pilot to payoff
Hear how AI assistants, agents and automation have moved from pilots into business use, where they created measurable value, what failed to scale and what leaders would approach differently today.
Enterprise technology and policy on one platform
Understand how enterprise priorities, technology readiness, data, security and policy considerations are shaping responsible AI adoption and business growth.
Clarity for your next AI move
Gain a clearer view of which AI capabilities are ready for wider adoption, where investment can deliver meaningful returns and which technologies need more time or a different approach.
Networking with the people shaping the sector
Connect with a carefully curated community of CIOs, CTOs, technology architects, business leaders, policy voices, AI practitioners and emerging AI companies facing similar decisions over AM tea, lunch and PM tea.
Tracks
What will we cover?
Six summit tracks. Explore the sessions in the agenda.
AI in Action
Proven Results. Next Frontiers.
Emerging AI capabilities viewed through the enterprise problems they solve. What delivered in real deployments, what fell short and what deserves attention next, with proven results kept distinct from future promise.
Agents at Work
Autonomy Where It Pays. Control Where It Counts.
Where agents can own multi step tasks within business processes. Workflow selection, human review and exception handling, and when agents truly beat simpler automation.
Choosing the AI Stack
Build. Buy. Scale. Technology Choices That Shape Value.
Licensing or consumption, build or buy, large model or small. How choices in models, compute, integration and infrastructure decide what AI delivers and what it takes to run at scale.
Proving the Return
From Better Performance to Measurable Value.
How organisations establish whether an AI investment delivered. Baselines, evaluation periods and the gap between hours saved, capacity released and financial returns, plus the evidence to continue, expand or rethink.
Securing the AI Enterprise
Protect Data. Preserve Privacy. Stay in Control.
How security and privacy change when AI can access data and act across systems. Data exposure, permissions, third party risk, and how to detect failures and respond while adoption grows.
The AI Workforce Shift
Redefining Roles. Reskilling for What’s Next.
How work changes when AI takes over tasks, not just assists. Where human judgment still matters, which new roles are emerging and whether reskilling shows up in everyday use.
The AI Payoff Summit
Who should attend?
For the people deciding where AI goes next. Meet CIOs, CTOs, builders and business leaders working through the same decisions as you.
Technology and transformation professionals
Connect AI adoption with the priorities of the enterprise.
AI, data and automation teams
Take the conversation from experiments to practical deployment.
Product, engineering, cloud and security professionals
Explore the systems, infrastructure and security behind AI at work.
Business and operations leaders applying AI
Find where AI can improve how your organisation operates.
AI startups and emerging technology companies
Connect your ideas with enterprise needs and ecosystem perspectives.
Consultants, solution providers, investors and ecosystem enablers
Bring technology, investment and implementation into one conversation.
Early career AI and technology professionals
Understand the skills, roles and decisions shaping your next move.
The format
Three kinds of conversation
01 / What worked
What worked?
Case studies with numbers: what shipped, what it cost, what it returned.
02 / What didn’t
What didn’t?
Candid post-mortems from leaders whose AI bets didn't pay off. Yet.
03 / What’s next
What’s next?
Where to put the next rupee: agents, data, talent and governance.
Inside the programme
Eight conversations. Real business stakes.
From policy and leadership to ROI, trust and the skills that come next. Explore the sessions shaping The AI Payoff Summit 2026.
Opening session · Government & industry
Policy Meets Industry: The AI Dialogue
Accelerating AI adoption. Strengthening Indian enterprise. Expanding global trade opportunities.
How can policy and industry work together to turn AI ambition into business growth?
Government and enterprise leaders come together to connect policy priorities with business needs—and explore how collaboration can accelerate adoption, strengthen competitiveness and open new markets.
Speakers announced soon
Aviation · Food & beverages · Automotive · FMCG
The Leadership Talks
Four industry leaders on their biggest AI wins, hardest lessons, and next big bets.
Speakers
Neetan Chopra
Chief Digital & Information Officer
IndiGo
Dr. Kamal Karnatak
Group CIO & Enterprise AI Leader
RJ Corp
Parna Ghosh
President, Group CIO & Data Protection Officer
Uno Minda
Manas Mehra
Global CIO
Dabur
What you’ll take away
What you’ll take away
- The moves that deliveredThe AI decisions that made a measurable difference in some of India's largest operations.
- The lessons that came the hard wayWhat each leader would do differently, so you don't have to learn it yourself.
- Four industries in one hourFrom the skies to the factory floor, from the supply chain to the consumer shelf.
- The next betsWhere each leader is taking AI in the year ahead.
Business value · AI investment
The ROI Reality
What paid off. What didn't. Where to invest next.
Speakers
Amit Pradhan
Chief Information Officer
Dixon Technologies
Binu Lakshmanan
Enterprise IT and AI-DX Leader
Honda Cars India
Vipin Kumar
Chief Information Officer (Global)
UFLEX Group
Ankit Gupta
Chief Technology Officer
PolicyBazaar for Business
Mudit Krishna
Head of AI
JK Cement
What you’ll take away
What you’ll take away
- The AI investments that paid offReal use cases from electronics, automotive, packaging, insurtech and building materials, and the returns they delivered.
- The ones that didn’tWhere AI projects fell short, and what each leader would do differently.
- How to measure AI’s valueThe metrics leaders use to prove ROI to their boards.
- From pilot to scaleWhat turns an AI experiment into a business-wide solution.
- Where to invest nextThe AI bets each leader is placing for the year ahead.
Cybersecurity · Data protection
Deepfakes, Data Leaks and the DPDP Clock
What protected us. What exposed us. What's coming next.
Speakers
Dhananjay Khanna
EVP & Chief Information Security Officer
SBI Card
Abhishek Bansal
Chief Information Security Officer
Max Life Insurance
Dr K P S Sandhu
Global Head – Strategic Initiatives, Cybersecurity
TCS
Vishal Jain
Head of IT Infrastructure and Security
Del Monte Foods
Samarth Suri
Managing Director
Quality Asia Certifications
What you’ll take away
What you’ll take away
- What protected usThe defences, controls and decisions that stopped real attacks.
- What exposed usThe breaches, near-misses and blind spots, and the lessons each one left behind.
- What's coming nextThe deepfake threats on the horizon and what DPDP compliance will demand of every business.
- What to fix firstPractical priorities you can act on the moment you leave the room.
Headline session · Tech Mahindra
The Next AI Advantage: What Businesses Must Prepare for Now
The capabilities emerging. The investments worth making. The changes leaders must prepare for.
Speakers
Nikhil Malhotra
Chief AI & Innovation Officer
Tech Mahindra
What you’ll take away
What you’ll take away
- The capabilities emergingThe new AI capabilities that will matter most to business in the next two to three years.
- The investments worth makingWhere to place your next AI rupee, and which bets can wait.
- The changes leaders must prepare forWhat to change today across your organisation, people, data and governance.
Financial services · Data & trust
AI Runs on Data. Finance Runs on Trust.
How BSE and SBI Card are getting both right.
Speakers
Sushil Ostwal
Chief Data Officer
BSE
Data readiness and governance
Dhananjay Khanna
EVP & Chief Information Security Officer
SBI Card
Security, fraud risks and trust
What you’ll take away
What you’ll take away
- The use cases that deliverWhere AI is creating real value across banking, payments and capital markets.
- Data readinessWhat it takes to build the data foundation and governance AI depends on.
- Deployment decisionsHow institutions choose what to build, what to buy and when to scale.
- Security, fraud and trustHow to protect customers as AI-driven fraud grows more sophisticated.
- Measurable outcomesHow to prove AI's value to the board, and to regulators.
Careers · Teams · Future skills
Discover the Skills That Will Define 2030
Your next career move. Your team's next competitive edge.
At The AI Payoff Summit 2026, hear directly from 30 leaders across every major industry, from aviation, banking, capital markets, technology, FMCG, automotive, manufacturing and more, as each answers one question:
What should professionals learn, and leaders build in their teams, to stay ahead by 2030?
Manufacturing · Energy · Healthcare · Technology
Where AI Wins Next
What's working in each industry, and where AI will make the biggest difference next.
Speakers
Samar Gupta
Chief Information Officer
Spark Minda
Manufacturing
Tarun Anand
Group Chief Information Officer
Jakson Group
Energy
Arun Goyal
Chief Information Officer
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
Healthcare
Vinod Sivarama Krishnan
Chief Information Officer
Birlasoft
Technology
What you’ll take away
What you’ll take away
- What's workingA real AI success story from each industry.
- What made it hardThe biggest obstacles each leader faced, and how they handled them.
- Ideas worth borrowingLessons from one industry that every other sector can apply.
- The next betWhere each leader is placing their next AI investment.
The Ajeesh legacy
Previous editions
Three events in New Delhi. From generative AI to agentic systems and AI-ready MSMEs, each edition moves the conversation forward.
11 January 2025 · New Delhi
The GenAI Summit 2025
- Delegates
- 150+
- Speakers
- 20
- Sessions
- 6
- Themes
- 8
Explore the possibilities
The Ashoka Hotel
View edition
19 June 2026 · New Delhi
The Agentic AI India Summit
- Delegates
- 200+
- Speakers
- 30+
- Sessions
- 10+
- Exhibitors
- 15+
Move from pilots to production
Eros Hotel
View edition
8 October 2026 · New Delhi
The AI Ready MSME Leadership Roundtable
- Industry leaders
- 25+
Build AI readiness for MSMEs
The Ashok Hotel
View editionIn their words
From past editions
Edition 02
A refreshing departure from the usual hype. The sessions were focused and highly relevant, offering a well-structured look at how India is actually adopting these technologies.
Edition 02
An excellent platform with strong participation from enterprise leaders and decision-makers. The summit was highly valuable in understanding real industry priorities and direction.
Edition 02
The Summit was professionally organized with a rare commitment to substance over scale. The sessions were technically grounded and forward looking.
Edition 02
Thoughtfully curated to bridge the gap between policy and enterprise. It’s one of the few platforms where meaningful, cross-sector conversations are actually happening.
Edition 02
The summit successfully brought together industry leaders to drive forward looking conversations on the future of AI, with a clear focus on emerging technologies and real-world execution.
Edition 02
A well-run event defined by high-quality, peer-level interactions. The insights shared were both practical and immediately impactful for our consulting frameworks.
Edition 02
Direct access to enterprise leaders made this a high-value experience. The quality of networking during the break sessions was excellent.
Edition 02
The relevance of the technical discussions stood out. It’s a platform that prioritizes the quality of conversation over simple networking.
Edition 02
A well-executed summit with a strong focus on practical insights and relevance. It created meaningful opportunities to engage with leaders across industries.
Edition 02
The summit created a strong environment for forward-looking discussions on AI. It was encouraging to see practical perspectives & industry alignment come together on one platform.
Tickets
Choose your pass
28th November 2026 · Hotel Samrat, New Delhi
Individual Pass
₹9,000+ 18% GST / person
- ₹9,000 per person + 18% GST
Group Pass
₹7,650+ 18% GST / person
- Minimum 3 passes per booking
- 15% group discount included
- ₹7,650 per person + 18% GST
Compare all passes
Tickets are non-cancellable and non-refundable, subject to applicable law. Read the refund policy
Venue
Hotel Samrat
28th November 2026 · Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021, India
New Delhi
28.6139° N, 77.2090° E
Who should attend?
The summit brings together technology and transformation professionals; AI, data and automation teams; product, engineering, cloud and security professionals; business and operations leaders; AI startups; consultants, solution providers, investors and ecosystem enablers; and early career AI and technology professionals.
When and where is the summit?
The summit takes place on 28th November 2026 at Hotel Samrat, New Delhi. Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021, India. Visit the Venue page for the map and directions.
Which passes are available?
Individual Passes are ₹9,000 + 18% GST per person. Group bookings of three or more passes receive a 15% discount on the total pass value before GST, bringing the price to ₹7,650 + 18% GST per person. Bookings open on 31 October 2026.
Can we book as a group?
Yes. Book a minimum of three passes together to receive a 15% discount on the total pass value before GST. The discounted rate is ₹7,650 + 18% GST per person. Bookings open on 31 October 2026.
Will companies receive a GST invoice?
Checkout supports company billing and an optional GSTIN. The organiser’s tax and invoice details are awaiting confirmation.
Can I get a refund or transfer my pass?
Confirmed tickets are non-cancellable and non-refundable, subject to applicable law. Ticket-transfer terms are awaiting confirmation; contact the organiser before arranging a transfer.
How can I speak at AI Payoff?
Speaker application dates and selection criteria are [TBD]. Use the speaker application link to see the latest details.
How can my company become a partner?
Partnership packages, pricing and available slots are [TBD]. Visit the partners page to discuss where your company fits.
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