Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described the hosting of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 as a moment of pride for the Global South, while emphasising the urgent need for responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Addressing global leaders and dignitaries at the summit, he termed the gathering unprecedented in both scale and significance. Welcoming participants, he said India, which represents one-sixth of humanity, is a youthful nation and a hub of the world’s largest technology talent pool and ecosystem, adding that the country both develops and rapidly adopts new technologies.
During the event, an AI-enabled sign language interpretation was displayed in the backdrop, demonstrating practical applications of the technology under discussion.
The Prime Minister compared artificial intelligence to earlier transformative breakthroughs, noting that when wireless signals were first transmitted, few could have imagined a world connected in real time. AI, he said, represents a similar shift in human history, and what is visible today is only the beginning of its impact.
He observed that technological change has accelerated dramatically. Earlier, the full effects of innovation took decades to unfold, but today the transition from machine learning to learning machines is happening faster, deeper and wider. AI, he said, is not only making machines intelligent but significantly multiplying human capability.
Responsibility Beyond Innovation
Highlighting the enthusiasm of young people, he said global youth are not merely adopting AI but actively shaping its future, with strong participation visible at the summit.
He stressed that technological advancement must be guided by responsibility, urging the world to consider what form of AI will be passed to future generations. Drawing a parallel with nuclear energy, he noted that humanity has witnessed both its destructive power and constructive contributions.
Describing AI as transformative, he cautioned that if left directionless it could cause harm, but with the right direction it can become a powerful solution, reiterating the importance of ethical deployment.
Also Read: ‘In AI, India Sees Opportunity And Blueprint Of Tomorrow,’ PM Modi Addresses AI Impact Summit 2026
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