- PM inaugurates India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi
- Calls for democratising AI, especially for Global South
- Unveils M.A.N.A.V. framework for ethical AI governance
- Urges global resolve to make AI a common good
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Feb: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, describing Artificial Intelligence as a transformative chapter in human history and urging the world to shape it for collective global good.
Addressing leaders from over 100 countries, including French President Emmanuel Macron and senior global AI stakeholders, the Prime Minister said India is proud to host the historic summit representing one-sixth of humanity and the world’s largest youth population.
“Artificial Intelligence represents a transformation of the same magnitude as historic turning points in human civilization,” he said, noting that AI is not merely making machines intelligent but multiplying human capability at unprecedented speed and scale.
Emphasising that AI must be human-centric, Modi said the key question is not what AI can do, but what humanity chooses to do with it. He cautioned that like nuclear energy, AI can either disrupt or deliver solutions depending on its direction.
The Prime Minister underlined that AI must be democratised and become a tool of inclusion and empowerment, particularly for the Global South. “Humans must not become mere data points,” he said, stressing that command must remain in human hands.
M.A.N.A.V. Vision for AI
Modi outlined India’s M.A.N.A.V. framework for AI governance:
- M – Moral and Ethical Systems: AI must follow ethical principles
- A – Accountable Governance: Transparent rules and oversight
- N – National Sovereignty: Data ownership must be respected
- A – Accessible and Inclusive: AI should empower all, not monopolise
- V – Valid and Legitimate: AI must be lawful and verifiable
He said the M.A.N.A.V. vision will serve as a guiding link for global welfare in the AI era.
Highlighting the future of work, Modi said humanity is entering an era where humans and intelligent systems will co-create, co-work, and co-evolve. AI, he added, will make work smarter and more impactful while opening new creative and high-value roles.
Calling for skilling and reskilling to become a mass movement, he said the AI revolution must remain inclusive and trusted.
On global standards, the Prime Minister warned that deepfakes and fabricated content threaten open societies. He advocated authenticity labels and watermarking for AI-generated content to build trust in digital ecosystems.
Modi also stressed the importance of child safety in AI systems and urged global cooperation to ensure responsible development. He called for open code and shared innovation, asserting that AI should be treated as a Global Common Good.
Highlighting India’s growing AI ecosystem, he said the country is building capabilities from semiconductors and chip manufacturing to quantum computing. He noted that India’s diversity, democracy, and digital infrastructure position it as a natural hub for scalable AI solutions.
Inviting global innovators, he said: “Design and Develop in India. Deliver to the World. Deliver to Humanity.”
