At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Shantanu Narayen, Chair and CEO of Adobe, said India is “better positioned than most nations” to lead in making artificial intelligence accessible and impactful for all. Narayen highlighted India’s role in shaping how data, privacy and security are embedded in AI systems.
Speaking in a session with industry leaders, Narayen noted that India’s large and diverse user base could see wider adoption of AI tools than anywhere else in the world, presenting an opportunity to set global standards for responsible and inclusive AI use.
Free* Access to Adobe Tools for Students
In a major development at the summit, Adobe announced that students in India will now have free* access to key creativity and productivity tools including Photoshop, Acrobat and Firefly AI through accredited higher education institutions.
The move will make industry-standard software available to students at accredited higher education institutions, along with associated curriculum and credentials to support future careers in design, video, animation, marketing, and other digital fields.
Making students job ready with NASSCOM
Adobe India has also partnered with NASSCOM FutureSkills Prime, a digital skilling initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, to offer free, industry-relevant courses and certificates to learners across India.
This initiative aims to help students build creative, productive, and AI-enabled skills that are increasingly in demand across fast-growing fields such as graphic design, video and VFX, animation, gaming, marketing, media, e-commerce, education, and technology and preparing them to thrive in today’s dynamic and ever-evolving job market.
Summit Showcases AI Creativity: Films and Tool Demos
The summit also featured cultural and creative showcases that went beyond policy and industry talks.
An AI film showcase was featured at the India AI Impact Summit as part of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting pavilion, presenting Kathāvatār — a curated collection of five Made-in-India AI-generated short films inspired by Indian folklore, screened at the AI Theatre in the WAVES Creators Corner.
The selection highlighted emerging Indian filmmakers experimenting with artificial intelligence as part of storytelling and cinematic craft, blending technological innovation with traditional narrative sensibilities.
Alongside the festival, visitors and delegates experienced live generative AI demonstrations, including the latest features in Adobe Firefly and creative applications such as Premiere Pro and Illustrator. These demos allowed participants to see how generative workflows are being used for image generation, editing and creative production in real time.
What It Means for India’s AI Ecosystem
Taken together, the announcements at the India AI Impact Summit underscore Adobe’s commitment to embedding generative AI into creative tools while supporting India’s ambition to democratise access to these technologies. By combining technology access with education and public showcases of creative work, Adobe’s initiatives at the summit aimed to position India as both a leader in AI adoption and a hub for future creative talent.
