AI guide, but humans must decide: PM Modi
New Delhi, Feb 18: Inaugurating the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that AI must be transformed from a “machine-centric” force into a “human-centric” one, even as he drew a stark parallel with nuclear power to underline the technology’s dual potential.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, PM Modi sais that the world’s largest and historic AI Impact Summit is being held in India, a nation representing one-sixth of humanity.
He highlighted that India was home to the world’s largest youth population, the biggest tech talent pool, and a thriving tech-enabled ecosystem.
The PM said that India not only creates new technologies but also adopts them at an unprecedented pace.
He said that 140 crore Indians were eager to embrace new technologies and, on their behalf, he extended a warm welcome to Heads of Governments, leaders of the global AI ecosystem, and innovators participating in the summit.
PM Modi expressed gratitude for their presence and underlined that hosting this summit in India is a matter of pride not only for the country but also for the entire Global South.
Pointing out that the summit has brought together the “who’s who” of the AI world, with representation from over 100 countries and distinguished participants from across the globe, taking its success to new heights, he highlighted the strong presence of the young generation at the summit, which he said instills new confidence.
The PM said that while new technologies often face initial skepticism, the speed and trust with which the youth worldwide are accepting AI, taking ownership of it, and using it, is unprecedented.
He also remarked on the enthusiasm surrounding the AI Summit’s exhibition, particularly the large participation of young talent.
PM Modi highlighted that solutions presented in areas such as agriculture, security, assistance for divyangjan, and meeting the needs of multilingual populations reflect the strength of ‘Made in India’ and showcase India’s innovative capabilities in the AI field.
He said that in human history, every few centuries a turning point emerges that resets the direction of civilization.
The PM highlighted that such moments change the pace of development and transform paradigms of thinking, understanding, and working.
He said that during such periods of transformation, the true impact is often not immediately understood.
PM Modi recalled that when sparks were first generated from stones, no one imagined that the same spark would become the foundation of civilization.
He said noted that when spoken language was first converted into script, no one realized that written knowledge would become the backbone of future systems.
The PM said that when signals were first transmitted wirelessly, no one could have imagined that one day the entire world would be connected in real time.
“Artificial Intelligence represents a transformation of the same magnitude as historic turning points in human civilization,” he said, highlighting that what is being seen and predicted today are only the initial signs of its impact.
PM Modi said that AI was making machines intelligent, but more importantly, it was multiplying human capability many times over.
He said that the difference this time lies in the unprecedented speed and unexpected scale.
The PM said that earlier, the impact of technology took decades to manifest, but today, the journey from machine learning to learning machines is fast, deep, and wide.
He underlined that this requires a larger vision and equally greater responsibility.
PM Modi said that along with the present generation, there must also be concern about the form of AI that will be handed over to future generations.
He said that the real question was not what AI could do in the future, but what humanity chooses to do with AI in the present.
Drawing parallels with nuclear power, the PM said that humanity had witnessed both its destructive potential and its positive contributions.
He said that AI too was a transformative power - if directionless, it leads to disruption, but with the right direction, it becomes a solution.
PM Modi highlighted that the core purpose of the Global AI Impact Summit was to deliberate on how AI could be made human-centric rather than machine-centric, and how it could be made sensitive and responsible.
He said that India’s vision for AI was clearly reflected in the theme of the summit - ‘Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya’ - Welfare for all, Happiness of all.
The PM said that this was the benchmark for India.
He cautioned that humans must not become mere data points or raw material for AI, and therefore AI must be democratized.
PM Modi said that AI should serve as a medium of inclusion and empowerment, especially in the Global South.
He said that AI must be given an open sky, while command must remain in human hands.
The PM compared this to GPS, which suggests the route but leaves the final decision to the user.
He underlined that the direction in which humanity takes AI today would determine the future.
At the New Delhi AI Impact Summit, PM Modi presented India’s MANAV Vision for AI.
He explained that MANAV stands for:
M – Moral and Ethical Systems: AI must be based on ethical guidelines.
A – Accountable Governance: Transparent rules and robust oversight.
N – National Sovereignty: Data belongs to its rightful owner.
A – Accessible and Inclusive: AI must not be a monopoly, but a multiplier.
V – Valid and Legitimate: AI must be lawful and verifiable.
The PM said that India’s MANAV Vision would become a crucial link for humanity’s welfare in the AI-driven world of the 21st century.
He said that decades ago, when the internet began, no one could imagine how many jobs it would create.
PM Modi said that the same was true for AI today, as it is difficult to predict what kinds of jobs will emerge in the future.
He said that the future of work in AI was not pre-defined, but would depend on collective decisions and actions.
The PM said that the future of work was a new opportunity, marking an era where humans and intelligent systems co-create, co-work, and co-evolve.
He said that AI would make work smarter, more efficient, and more impactful, enabling better design, faster building, and improved decision-making.
PM Modi said that AI would also open higher-value, creative, and meaningful roles for more people, creating opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and new industries.
He stressed the importance of making skilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning a mass movement.
Asserting that the future of work would be inclusive, trusted, and human-centric, the PM said that if humanity moves forward together, Artificial Intelligence would elevate human potential to new heights.
He said that transparency was the greatest safeguard, noting the saying “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
PM Modi said that while some countries and companies consider AI a strategic asset to be developed confidentially, India believes AI would benefit the world only when it is shared.
He said that open code and shared development would allow millions of young minds to make AI better and safer.
The PM called for a collective resolve to develop AI as a Global Common Good.
Highlighting the urgent need for global standards, he said that deepfakes and fabricated content were destabilising open societies.
Drawing a parallel with nutrition labels on food, PM Modi said that digital content too must carry authenticity labels so people can distinguish between real and AI-generated material.
He underlined the growing need for watermarking and clear source standards as AI increasingly generates text, images, and videos, stressing that trust must be built into technology from the start.
Emphasising the importance of child safety, the PM said that just as school syllabi are curated, the AI space must also be child-safe and family-guided.
He said that today there were two kinds of people - those who see fear in AI and those who see fortune.
PM Modi said that India sees fortune and future in AI, backed by talent, energy capacity, and policy clarity.
He expressed happiness that three Indian companies have launched their AI models and apps during the summit.
The PM said these models reflect the talent of India’s youth and showcase the depth and diversity of solutions that India is contributing to the global AI landscape.
He said that India was building a resilient ecosystem ranging from semiconductors and chip-making to quantum computing.
PM Modi said that secure data centers, a strong IT backbone, and a dynamic startup ecosystem make India a natural hub for affordable, scalable, and secure AI solutions.
He said that India possesses diversity, demography, and democracy.
The PM said that any AI model that succeeds in India could be deployed globally.
Earlier, sharing his remarks at the Leaders’ Plenary Session during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the PM welcomed the participants once again to the AI Impact Summit in India.
He expressed confidence that the summit will play a crucial role in building a human‑centric and sensitive global AI ecosystem.
PM Modi said that history shows humanity had always turned disruptions into opportunities, and today presents another such moment to transform disruption into humanity’s greatest opportunity.
He recalled lord Buddha’s teaching that ‘Right Action comes from Right Understanding,’ stressing the importance of creating a roadmap that ensures AI’s positive impact through timely, well-intentioned, and correct decisions.
The PM said that during the COVID global pandemic, the world witnessed that when nations stand together, even the impossible becomes possible.
He highlighted that cooperation provided solutions - from vaccine development to supply chains, from data sharing to saving lives.
PM Modi said that India saw how technology can serve humanity, citing the digital vaccination platform that helped vaccinate millions on time.
He said that UPI ensured seamless online transactions even in difficult circumstances and played a major role in bridging the digital divide.
The PM said that in recent years India had built a vibrant digital public infrastructure and is sharing it with the world, because for India technology is not a medium of power but of service, not to dominate but to empower.
He underlined that AI too must follow this direction to ensure the welfare of humanity.
PM Modi said that while technology in the past created divisions, AI must now be accessible and within everyone’s reach.
He stressed that as the future of AI was discussed, the aspirations and priorities of the Global South must be placed at the center of AI governance.
The PM highlighted that ethics had always been central to human progress, but with AI the scope of unethical behavior is unlimited.
He said that ethical norms for AI must also be unlimited.
PM Modi said that AI companies carry a major responsibility to focus not only on profit but also on purpose, and underscored the need for strong ethical commitments.
He said that at a personal level, AI is already influencing human learning, intelligence, and emotions.
For ethical AI use, the PM offered three suggestions saying, “AI training must respect data sovereignty and be based on a trusted global data framework. He highlighted the principle of “garbage in, garbage out,” stressing that if data is not secure, balanced, and reliable, the output cannot be trustworthy.
“AI platforms must keep their safety rules clear and transparent. He called for a “glass box” approach instead of a “black box,” where safety rules are visible and verifiable. He noted that this would ensure accountability and strengthen ethical behavior in business.
“AI must be guided by clear human values. He cited the “paper clip problem” as an example, where a machine given a single goal could exhaust all global resources to achieve it. He underlined that while technology is powerful, direction must always be determined by humans.”
He said that Aspirational India had a major role in the global journey of Artificial Intelligence and, recognizing this responsibility, India is taking significant steps.
PM Modi said that under India’s AI Mission, 38,000 GPUs were already available and 24,000 more would be added in the next six months.
He said that India was providing its startups with world‑class computing power at highly affordable rates.
The PM said that India had also created AIKosh (National Dataset Platform), through which more than 7500 datasets and 270 AI models had been shared as national resources.
He said that India’s direction and vision for AI were clear - AI is a shared resource for the welfare of humanity.
PM Modi underlined the need to build an AI future that advances innovation, strengthens inclusion, and integrates human values.
He said that when technology and human trust move together, the true impact of AI would be visible across the world.
The PM extended an invitation to the world with the call: ‘Design and Develop in India. Deliver to the World. Deliver to Humanity’.
He conveyed his best wishes to all participants.
President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron, Secretary General of United Nations, Heads of State, ministers, senior representatives from multilateral institutions and tech and AI industry leaders were present among other dignitaries at the event.
