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Modi Calls for Democratising AI at India Summit
Feb 19, 2026Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for the democratisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), saying the technology must become a tool for inclusion and empowerment, particularly for the Global South. He was inaugurating the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said the world is entering an era in which humans and intelligent systems will co-create, co-work and co-evolve. He noted that AI will make work smarter, more efficient and more impactful, and urged the global community to adopt a collective resolve to ensure that AI serves the Global Common Good. “In AI, India sees opportunity and the blueprint of tomorrow,” he said.
Mr Modi emphasised that India not only develops new technologies but also adopts them rapidly, adding that the country is home to the world’s largest technology talent pool. Calling the summit a matter of pride for India and the Global South, he described Artificial Intelligence as a transformative chapter in human history that will shape the direction and pace of development in the coming decades.
Outlining India’s M.A.N.A.V. vision for AI, he said it stands for Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty, Accessible and Inclusive systems, and Valid and Legitimate use. He asserted that this framework would play a crucial role in ensuring that AI benefits humanity in the 21st century.
Drawing a parallel with nuclear power, the Prime Minister said AI, like other transformative technologies, can be either disruptive or constructive depending on how it is guided. He stressed that while AI should be given an “open sky,” command must remain in human hands. He also advocated open-source development and shared innovation to enable young minds around the world to make AI safer and more effective.
Highlighting concerns over deepfakes and fabricated digital content, Mr Modi called for global standards, watermarking and authenticity labels for AI-generated material, similar to nutrition labels on food products. He said trust must be built into technology from the outset. Emphasising child safety, he added that just as school curricula are carefully curated, the AI ecosystem must also be safe and family-guided.
The Prime Minister said India is building a resilient technological ecosystem spanning semiconductors, chip-making, quantum computing, secure data centres and a strong IT backbone supported by a vibrant startup sector. He noted that India’s diversity, demography and democracy make it a natural hub for affordable, scalable and secure AI solutions. “Design and Develop in India, Deliver to the World, Deliver to Humanity,” he said, inviting global collaboration.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who addressed the summit, recalled that France and India had co-hosted the AI Action Summit in Paris last year and had set guiding principles for transformative technologies. He praised India’s digital public infrastructure, highlighting its nationwide digital identity system, large-scale digital payment platform and expanding digital health network.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said AI must belong to everyone and not be controlled by a handful of countries. He called for the creation of a global fund to help developing nations build essential AI capabilities.
The summit brought together global leaders, policymakers and technology experts to deliberate on building an inclusive, ethical and accountable AI ecosystem for the future.
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