At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted AI as humanity’s next evolutionary leap, capable of exponentially enhancing human potential during his address on Thursday.
Speaking to a global audience, Modi compared AI’s trajectory to historic tech shifts, noting its accelerated pace. ‘The journey from machine learning to machines that learn is not just faster but deeper and more widespread,’ he remarked.
He called for expansive thinking paired with profound accountability, extending concerns to posterity. ‘We must shape AI today so tomorrow’s generations inherit a tool for empowerment, not peril,’ Modi said.
Shifting focus, he reframed the AI discourse: not on futuristic possibilities, but on present-day ethical applications. The summit, he noted, aims to humanize AI, fostering sensitivity and responsibility.
Underpinning India’s stance is the theme ‘Sarvajan Hitaya – Sarvajan Sukhaya,’ prioritizing universal welfare. Modi pushed for AI democratization, transforming it into a vehicle for inclusion and strength in developing regions.
He contrasted this with corporate tendencies to hoard AI codes as secrets, arguing openness is key. ‘Only public codes can unlock AI’s potential for worldwide good,’ the PM affirmed, setting India as a leader in open AI governance.