In a candid address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, IT Secretary S Krishnan declared that the future of Artificial Intelligence lies not in flashy promotions but in creating solutions that genuinely simplify lives.
On the summit’s second day, during the session ‘From Algorithms to Outcomes: Building AI that Works for People,’ Krishnan elaborated on the India AI Mission’s strategic design to tackle varied real-world issues.
‘Our provision of computing resources, AI models, and datasets is purposeful—to build apps with verifiable impact,’ he told the panel. ‘Explore the expo, and you’ll see startups transforming healthcare, farming, education, and industry sectors.’
Addressing perennial shortages in public services, Krishnan noted, ‘No government will ever have sufficient educators, physicians, or judges. AI’s role in amplifying productivity could revolutionize service standards.’
He stressed the hurdles: choosing viable interventions, responsible deployment, privacy protection, and achieving quantifiable results with taxpayer money.
This pivotal discussion explored balancing citizen-focused AI development with building independent tech prowess. The emphasis was on AI’s potential to elevate public services and promote societal well-being through measurable progress.
Participants debated optimal uses of AI infrastructure to boost efficiency, fortify administration, and provide direct advantages to the populace, painting an optimistic yet pragmatic picture of AI’s trajectory in India.