DCNY Summit 2026 · Official recap
What was said on the Hill
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. · 16 September 2026
I was in the roomYou were in the room with members of Congress, ambassadors, congressional staff, and more than 300 business executives. Here is the lasting record to share with your team and your board.
I missed itMembers of Congress and ambassadors took the podium on Capitol Hill, joined by chiefs of staff and staff from Senate and House offices. More than 300 business leaders in investment and technology took part in the invitation-only event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This recap brings you into the room: who spoke, the ideas they shared, and the takeaways worth acting on.
Capitol photograph: dcnyc.org
02Recap
Bipartisan members of Congress, ambassadors, diplomats and business leaders on Capitol Hill, discussing AI and global collaboration in the future economy.
Held at the prestigious U.S. House of Representatives congressional venue on Capitol Hill, DCNY 2026 brought bipartisan members of Congress, ambassadors, diplomats and business leaders together in Washington, D.C., to discuss AI and global collaboration in the future economy.
Chief Guest Sen. Dr. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) delivered Special Remarks [14.mp4]. Throughout the day, bipartisan members of Congress dropped by to deliver remarks in between the ongoing House session.
Speakers and diplomatic representation included ambassadors to Washington representing almost two billion people, and senior corporate leaders from AWS, NVIDIA and the venture capital community. A former Chief Information Officer of the United States [22.mp4], the former chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank [12.mp4] and a former chair of institutional investors also offered remarks.
AWS, Global Head of Global Innovation:Michael Greenwald
NVIDIA, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Field Operations:Jay Puri
Goldman Sachs, Global Head of AI:Archana VemulapalliEach remark links to its official recording.
The recordings move between the Hill, capital and technology: Rep. Julie Johnson of Texas, Zimbabwe’s ambassador and a Nexstar Ventures fireside chat [9.mp4]; Michael Greenwald of AWS [10.mp4]; Georgia’s ambassador, H.E. Tamar Taliashvili [11.mp4]; Ms. Reta Jo Lewis, former chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank [12.mp4]; and the World Bank AI session with Georgetown University [13.mp4].
More members of Congress appear in the archive:
Around them: Miss USA [17.mp4]; the Emerging Innovation showcase [20.mp4] and BriteLab [21.mp4]; the featured AI in Health panel, led by a former Chief Information Officer of the United States [22.mp4]; Pension Funds & Institutional Capital [24.mp4]; Family Offices, in a recording shared with Estonia’s ambassador [28.mp4]; Anshu Bansal [25.mp4]; Tim Mellon–funded Brillouin Energy [27.mp4]; and Culvert Engineering, funded by the Defense Innovation Unit [29.mp4]. The archive closes with a recognition of AllianceIndus Chairman Ash Bhatt [30.mp4] and the vice chairman’s closing remarks [31.mp4].
Across the summarized sessions, the same ideas came up again and again: energy to power the AI era (Montenegro, Nepal, Sen. Marshall); keeping people at the center of work that AI will change (Bangladesh, Sen. Marshall); guardrails and accountability (Bangladesh, Nepal, Sen. Marshall); and a place for developing countries in AI’s gains and its rule-making (Bangladesh, Nepal, Fiji). The takeaways put them to work.
The previous summit was held at the U.S. Capitol on 18 September 2025. American Bazaar reported approximately 350 attendees, with panels on global partnerships, AI in governance, health tech and digital assets, and presentations from ambassadors and members of Congress.
03Ambassadors
Seven ambassadors to Washington took the podium. Here they are in their own words, each one ready to watch.
Ambassador of Estonia
Estonia’s remarks run from about 21:00 to 26:15, in a recording shared with the family-offices session.
Watch the remarks40:36
Ambassador of Montenegro
Watch the remarks3:03“Montenegro could be a model for sustainable society.”
Ambassador of Bangladesh
Watch the remarks3:44“It should benefit our workforce. It should not [sideline] the workforce.”
Ambassador of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s remarks open the recording, from about 0:35 to 2:15, followed by Rep. Julie Johnson and a Nexstar Ventures fireside chat.
Watch the remarks29:16
Ambassador of Fiji
Watch the remarks2:05“…it has begun to have a huge impact on a small island country.”
0:21
Acknowledged from the stage
The master of ceremonies names Ambassadors Moller and Sasahara on the recording [7.mp4]; Ambassador Ratney also joined us.
Watch the acknowledgment0:21Embassies in Washington sent best wishes, representation and remarks.
ArgentinaBangladesh
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Cameroon
Canada
Denmark
Dominican RepublicEstonia
EthiopiaFiji
Finland
FranceGeorgia
Jamaica
Kenya
MoldovaMontenegroNepal
Serbia
Singapore
TaiwanZimbabwe
India04Photo gallery
Scenes from Capitol Hill on 16 September 2026: the Chief Guest, the ambassadors, members of Congress, the panels and our guests. Use the arrows or swipe.
05Video gallery
The sessions from the official archive, ready to watch, with the speakers’ own words wherever a transcript exists.
12:56 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=QPZQJHvJm5Q
Remarks for Montenegro
In one lineA small state as a model for a sustainable society; science and dialogue as the way through AI-era challenges.
Montenegro could be a model for sustainable society.0:43
3:03 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=LWhSn9NwR6U
0:00Actually, I was not supposed and I was not expected to give [remarks], but since [unclear] mentioned that I am from Montenegro — it’s a very small country. However, it’s a [thousand-year statehood?], so we had freedom, which is the main value, the same value as the United States. And at the same time, it’s all history, but it’s unique in the sense that it is the first [ecological?] state in the world, defined by [constitution?].
0:33So it’s 600,000 people and [the] territory is 13,600 square kilometers, like Connecticut or [unclear]. And we focus much on the future of the planet, because Montenegro could be a model for sustainable society. I wouldn’t say we should start with the world, because [unclear] means increasing energy, energy means increasing entropy. Entropy means that we will end up with the [unclear] planet. So it’s necessary to have a balance.
1:07Montenegro is [in the] top 4% richest countr[ies] in the world [for] freshwater, and top 10% for forest. So we have [a] multi-ethnic society, giving tolerance, all religious groups there, we have different nations. And [we have] the longest canyon in Europe, and the deepest in Europe, [second only to?] the Colorado, with lakes and 117 beaches. The biggest lake in [the] Balkans, in mountains and lakes and rivers.
1:41So energy is crucial, especially nowadays when we see that AI is one that dramatically changes the present and our future. So, because science is [unclear] development, also we face serious challenges in the future, because of environmental issues, climate change, demographic challenges. And science at the same time [is] the only way how we can face these challenges.
2:13Science at the same time, it may say that we are witnessing [an] increasing number of researchers. Number of researchers in the world increases three times faster than the population. And we have increasing multidisciplinary work and international character of research all over the world. Which means that it’s necessary to have an increasing role of science as [science diplomacy?], and it’s necessary to [have] dialogue. So to talk together and to look for future, to build peace and prosperity. So for a small country, I think, just a short message. Thank you.
Remarks for Fiji and the Pacific Islands
In one lineTechnology reaches Pacific children with “no border to try and manage”; the Pacific is adapting to AI.
…it has begun to have a huge impact on a small island country.1:05
2:05 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=HnuzQvXC4pE
0:00Thank you for the invitation to be here, to be part of this excellent gathering. Very briefly on Fiji: we are located, like most of you know, in the middle of the South Pacific. There are only about [200?] islands.
0:16We have been looking at how Fiji has to be responsive to the growth that happens around the world. You know, as we progress in these developing economies, we have to keep up [with] what happens around us. And what we’ve found [is] that, for example, the trade and other businesses that we try to do with other countries — especially Australia, New Zealand, here in the US, [on] the West Coast — we have to be responsive to, as I said, what goes [on] around us.
0:58And the impact of technology and the advancement of technology and AI — we’ve found that it has begun to have a huge impact on a small island country. Like, we have [an] 800,000 population. And the way that I personally have seen [at] home is that the use of technology by our children and grandchildren continues to grow. The sharing of information, there is no border to try and manage, or to try and look at how our children and our population have access to this modern technology.
1:41So I look forward to learning more on this AI issue. It’s something that we found that we cannot avoid. We just have to adjust the way we live there in the Pacific Island countries, and to be responsive in the best way we can towards the advancement of technology in a big country like the US. Thank you.
Remarks for Nepal on AI and governance
In one lineAI as a leapfrog for public services and disaster early warning — with developing countries helping write the rules.
…developing countries must have a meaningful voice in shaping the rules of the AI era.2:47
3:48 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=SdZpToKkaXg
0:00Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Namaskar and very good morning. I am from Nepal — Nepal, a country of Lord Buddha and the Mount Everest — and we are very much thankful for all the international community and the friends of Nepal for the generous support in the relief efforts of Nepal, that recently we have faced [unclear] and we have lost many lives due to the [unclear] floods. And it is a pleasure to join this important discussion on artificial intelligence and governance.
0:52For Nepal, AI represents not only a technological opportunity but an opportunity to leapfrog traditional [stages] of development. Nepal is pursuing a broader digital transformation agenda, including [the] National [AI] Policy, expansion of citizen-centered digitalized bureaucracy, and [to] make government more accessible, efficient, transparent and responsive to the citizen. Here, [AI] can particularly transform [unclear] in Nepal. It can support public service delivery, disaster preparedness and climate resilience. In a country exposed to floods, landslides and other [natural] hazards, AI[-enabled] early warning and risk management system[s can] literally save lives.
1:45But technological advancements must go hand in hand with responsibility. We need human-centered, ethical and accountable AI with strong safeguards for privacy, security, transparency and inclusion. Nepal also sees AI as an opportunity for young generations. Nepal can evolve from being a primary consumer of technology to becoming a producer of digital knowledge and services. There is also an interesting convergence between Nepal’s traditional renewable hydropower potential, while AI require[s] an increasing amount of energy and digital infrastructure.
2:27We highly value the United States as a partner in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. There is a considerable scope to [deepen] cooperation [in] AI research, digital governance, cybersecurity, skill development, start-up[s] and responsible technology. At the global level, developing countries must have a meaningful voice in shaping the rules of the AI era. AI should not widen the technological divide. Its benefits must be inclusive, accessible and shared.
3:04The future of AI will ultimately depend not only on how intelligen[t] the machine[s] become but how wisely we govern them. For Nepal, our ambition is clear: smart[er] governance, empowered citizens and youth, inclusive growth and responsible technology. We want to embrace AI not simply to make a government more digital but to make development more human. Nepal stands ready to work with you all, dignitaries and other partners, to build an AI future that is innovative, ethical, inclusive and beneficial to all. Thank you so much.
Remarks for Bangladesh on AI, labor and policy
In one lineAI that strengthens a vast young workforce; a 2026–2035 national AI policy in the works.
…whether we will be able to shape the transformation that would benefit everyone.0:49
3:44 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=wsQvT_kX-ZY
0:00Good morning to everyone. First of all, I’d like to thank [DCNY] for convening us together, particularly because of the reason that the AI boom that we are seeing happening [at] an unprecedented speed cannot be tackled by one single country. And so for us, for Bangladesh, the defining question — I’ll get into that — is that we all know that the AI is developing at a breakneck speed, and at the same time it is also generating wealth [at] an unprecedented speed. But the real question for us, for countries like Bangladesh, [is] not about how the AI reshapes the economy; for us, it’s more about whether we will be able to shape the transformation that would benefit everyone.
1:00So from a developing country like Bangladesh, we have our own perspective. One is a kind of pessimistic perspective, which is that we are the eighth most populous country in the world. So we are [a] supply of labor to the rest of the world. So we have to ensure that the development of AI would not cause huge job loss in Bangladesh. And on a more optimistic note, we are enjoying a population dividend. We have a huge young, tech-savvy and digitally engaged workforce. So that gives us an enormous opportunity to tap into the AI development and the AI boom. So we look at AI from this perspective.
1:41And so for us, the AI adoption should strengthen our workforce. It should benefit our workforce. It should not [sideline] the workforce. Therefore, our approach to development of AI and its ecosystem — it’s about modernizing the digital and the legal framework, and do[ing] it at [the pace?] of the AI development, not after the disruption hits us. And we should also ensure that the high growth and high-growth investment in the AI sector and the workers[’] protection will go hand in hand.
2:20And with that in mind, our government is focusing on a human-centric — as the ambassador of Nepal has said — human-centric national AI [policy]. We are already [chalking] out one, which is for the next 10 years, from 2026 to 2035. So what we need from the international community, from you people and from countries like the United States, is capacity building, technology transfer and [direct?] investment in the AI sector.
2:55So we are looking forward to a shared future where the AI development, AI ecosystem boom will not only be regarded as a business success story, but that would also drive human prosperity. So that is how a country like Bangladesh — a developing country with little natural resources but having a huge workforce — is looking at [it]. Thank you.
3:34[Another speaker, likely the master of ceremonies:] I hope, Ambassador, the pessimism won’t be there, and we hope that the AI won’t replace the workforce and will be rather assisting us.
Three segments: congressional remarks, remarks for Zimbabwe, and a Nexstar Ventures fireside chat
29:16 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=meuAbLLK8nc
13:42 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=nv4AL83gBNg
5:41 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=qdfz-6YYVR4
20:06 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=jPAYjvveiKQ
Panel discussion
30:25 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=3Rj3I0vHlaI
Chief Guest
In one lineTreat AI like 1940s nuclear physics: big upside, real guardrails, humans in the loop, and American leadership.
It reminds me of where America was maybe in the 1940s and 1950s when it came to nuclear physics…0:28
3:59 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=iySPHQv_AZ8
0:00…to interrupt this group. It sounds like they’d be more interesting than I am as well. But I’m Roger Marshall. I grew up as a fifth-generation farm kid, a first-generation college student, went out and practiced medicine in rural Kansas for 25 years, delivered 5,000 babies, and woke up one day and I was in Congress. So it is great to be here, and maybe I’ll just share a few thoughts about AI.
0:28It reminds me of where America was maybe in the 1940s and 1950s when it came to nuclear physics, and it could be used for good or it could be used for bad. It took the proper guardrails and the proper people to make sure, though, that it’s been used for good. And I think that it’ll be simpler for nuclear power and nuclear physics than it’s going to be for AI, however. So I think that’s the challenge before us. I think there’s more we don’t know than we do know about it.
1:01You know, every morning I wake up and I pray that I would be humble: do justice, love mercy and walk humble. And I think that’s really important — how humbling this particular topic is. So the doctor in me wants to get second opinions and consultations. I want to measure twice and cut once. And anybody that thinks they know everything about this, I would run scared from them. I think that we definitely need to put all of our minds together to do what’s best for this great nation.
1:33You know, I think that there’s so much good that could come from AI. I think about healthcare — especially near and dear to me — the cures we’re going to get for Alzheimer’s or cancer. You know, even just looking at specific genetics of people: which drug would be best for this person with hypertension or diabetes. So I think it’s endless. In agriculture, I think the opportunities are endless: what type of natural fertilizers, synthetic fertilizers, plant-based fertilizers can we use as opposed to the typical chemicals as well. So I think the limits are unimaginable.
2:15I think we know at least two things about AI. Number one, it’s going to change our jobs, our workforce, right? And I don’t know exactly what that’s going to end up looking like, but I think it’s important that we keep [unclear] the human in the loop. So as I’m talking to my community colleges this morning and technical colleges, I think it’s important that they start thinking ahead of us here right now. I don’t think that DC is going to figure out all this by ourselves. I think that we need each community — [each community] is going to solve the job issue by themselves.
2:41I think the second big issue that we need to be taking care of up in DC, though, is affordable energy. And that’s why I’ve been working now for almost a decade on [modular] reactors. [unclear] I do think that [modular] reactors are one of the solutions for clean energy, reliable energy as well, and expect for some of those to be launched [in] the next two or three years across the state of Kansas as well.
3:05In the meantime, when I wake up every morning and after I pray to do justice and be humble, I also think about: is my family safe, is your family safe? So I think what we can’t [do] is let China get ahead of us — [no] different than we [unclear] Russia or China to get ahead of us in nuclear weapon development, we can’t let them get ahead of us when it comes to AI development.
3:28And then you’ve got to circle back: you’re constantly trying to weigh the good and the bad, the pros and the cons, and then what type of guardrails do we do to make sure that AI doesn’t become autonomous, so to speak, as well. So I think there’s plenty of work to be done. I appreciate you all even taking the chance to come up here and put your heads together, and look forward as we try to start working together on this policy. Thank you so much.
5:00 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=PtWkQpuiMTU
3:48 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=dd6k9MNeHm8
Remarks and recognitions
11:54 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=T4rFg4dEdfU
6:45 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=Ix1G4GfPZmw
Led by a former Chief Information Officer of the United States
20:57 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=_Hpv8Tr-A_Y
1:26 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsr0Nh64Wg
Panel
18:17 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=8LgzzfXWZtk
5:35 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=OInN_ALnYsE
4:45 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=M6qS2TedokI
19:19 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=a3whZQn40HA
Two segments: remarks for Estonia, and a family-offices session
40:36 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=viFAYus_jgk
Funded by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
28:28 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=_3vQKRcB79c
Acknowledgment of former U.S. ambassadors
0:21 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=J8gtwO2ZvOQ
Introduction
4:10 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=a2U0BFQ-_qI
Recognition
4:00 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=47UCRaJEWm4
Closing remarks
0:50 · Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=gnvejdhLlYs
The recordings play from AllianceIndus’s official YouTube channel, and only when you press play.Transcripts are machine-generated and lightly corrected: [word] marks a correction, [word?] a probable reading, and [unclear] audio that was hard to make out. Where a transcript and the recording differ, the recording wins.
Full transcripts are not reproduced in this printed briefing; they sit under each clip in the online edition.
06Best wishes
Senators, members of the House, cabinet members and a governor sent best wishes to DCNY 2026 or were represented in the room.
34best wishes received: 13 senators (among them the Chief Guest), 18 members of the House, 2 cabinet members and a governor
Honorable U.S. SenatorRick Scott (R-Fla.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorKatie Britt (R-Ala.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorJohn Boozman (R-Ark.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorMike Rounds (R-S.D.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorRoger Wicker (R-Miss.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorShelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorMark Warner (D-Va.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorMaggie Hassan (D-N.H.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorAngela Alsobrooks (D-Md.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorCory Booker (D-N.J.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorPatty Murray (D-Wash.)
Honorable U.S. SenatorJacky Rosen (D-Nev.)With our thanks to every office that sent best wishes.
07Takeaways
Six takeaways in the speakers’ own words, our goals and how the day met them, and ways to put this recap to work.
“Montenegro could be a model for sustainable society.”
Science and dialogue, the ambassador said, are the way to meet the challenges ahead as AI changes the present and the future [3.mp4].
“It should benefit our workforce. It should not [sideline] the workforce.”
Keep humans in the loop, and let community and technical colleges plan ahead of Washington [14.mp4].
“AI should not widen the technological divide.”
Developing countries, the ambassador affirmed, must have a meaningful voice in shaping the rules of the AI era [5.mp4].
“…it has begun to have a huge impact on a small island country.”
The Pacific is adapting, and responding to advances in larger economies such as the United States [4.mp4].
“It took the proper guardrails and the proper people…”
The senator likened AI to nuclear physics in the 1940s and ’50s; Nepal called for AI that is human-centered, ethical and accountable [5.mp4].
“…not only be regarded as a business success story, but that would also drive human prosperity.”
Bangladesh invited partners into capacity building, technology transfer and investment [6.mp4]; Nepal linked its hydropower to AI’s energy demand [5.mp4]; and Sen. Marshall expects modular reactors in Kansas within two or three years [14.mp4].
Your view
Build on the day: share the recordings, and pick up the conversations.
Reach each office through its official channels, and quote each speaker in their own words, as their own view.
Your view
Start with the Chief Guest, then hear the ambassadors in their own words.
9:40 total
The Chief Guest’s Special Remarks, then the first of the ambassadors.
82:32 total
Six more ambassadors, from Europe to South Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
Ambassador of Estonia · Family offices 28.mp4
Estonia’s ambassador, in a recording shared with the family-offices session.
40:36
Ambassador of Montenegro 3.mp4
Montenegro: a small country offered as a model for a sustainable society.
3:03
Ambassador of Bangladesh 6.mp4
Bangladesh: a young workforce as a dividend, and a 2026–2035 AI policy in the works.
3:44
Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas) · Ambassador of Zimbabwe · Nexstar Ventures 9.mp4
Zimbabwe’s ambassador, in a recording shared with Rep. Julie Johnson and Nexstar Ventures.
29:16
Ambassador of Nepal 5.mp4
Nepal: AI to leapfrog development, disaster early warning, a voice in writing the rules.
3:48
Ambassador of Fiji 4.mp4
Fiji: technology with “no border to try and manage”; the Pacific adapting to AI.
2:05
20:57 total
Our featured session; watch it in full.
AI in Health panel 22.mp4
AI in Health, led by a former Chief Information Officer of the United States.
20:57
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08Roadmap
How DCNY works, what speakers said is on the way, and what to watch for next. Each item is labeled with its source.
Stated by DCNY
Named on stage in 2026
Coming up
We will share every announcement at dcnyc.org.
Upcoming events
Two invitation-only programs from the DCNY team in 2027. Places are limited, so request your invitation early.
January 2027 · Delegation
Travel with our delegation group to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in Gandhinagar, India, with a stopover in Saudi Arabia on the way.
April 2027 · Invitation only
An exclusive gathering where investors meet ambassadors and diplomats from around the world to explore cross-border investment opportunities together.
Questions about either program? Write to us at info@dcnysummit.org.
