India Is Embracing AI With “Foresight and Preparation,” Says PM Modi at AI Impact Summit 2026
The Prime Minister of India stated that the nation is not implementing artificial intelligence (AI) with trepidation, but rather, “with foresight and preparation.”
In a speech at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, he acknowledged that many youth are worried that they might lose their jobs due to the implementation of AI.
To this, he said he understands such anxieties, and agreed that the best way to answer technological advances is to prepare for them with an appropriate amount of skills.
AI Anxiety Among Youth — And a Historical Perspective
While PM Modi acknowledged the “anxiety” of youth aged 18–26 as a result of AI changing jobs, he said historical context indicates that no new technology has taken away jobs.
Instead, technological revolutions:
- Create new jobs
- Reframe existing roles
- Open fresh career pathways
From the industrial revolution to modern internet advances, every major technological shift has reshaped the job market — not erased it.
AI as a Growth Multiplier for India’s Workforce
AI will help India’s workforce expand and create new opportunities.
According to the Prime Minister, AI can equip professionals such as:
- Doctors
- Teachers
- Attorneys
- Small business owners
with better tools to work more efficiently, serve more people, and deliver higher-quality outcomes.
India is currently implementing large-scale skilling and reskilling programs in preparation for the AI era. The government considers AI an immediate responsibility rather than a distant future issue.
India’s Global AI Standing
India’s readiness is reflected globally. The country ranked third in the 2025 Stanford Global AI Vibrancy Index, highlighting strong growth in:
- AI research and development
- Talent training and education
- Economic engagement
The Prime Minister emphasized that India has both the talent pool and entrepreneurial energy to transition from being a consumer of technology to becoming a creator of AI solutions.
From an IT Services Nation to an AI Product Nation
India’s IT services industry, long known for service exports, is now undergoing a major transformation.
Rather than replacing IT firms, AI is reshaping them through:
- Automation-driven business models
- Advanced analytics
- Domain-specific enterprise AI tools
Under the IndiaAI Mission, the government has expanded access to high-performance computing infrastructure and GPUs for startups and enterprises.
Centres of Excellence have been established in:
- Healthcare
- Agriculture
- Education
- Sustainable cities
Alongside this, dedicated skilling hubs are being built to prepare the workforce for AI-driven industries.
The goal is clear: shift from service delivery to building globally competitive AI products and platforms.
AI for Farmers, MSMEs and Grassroots Innovators
Inclusion was a central theme at the summit.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Indian youth will develop AI solutions rooted in Indian realities — specifically for:
- Farmers
- MSMEs
- Women entrepreneurs
- Innovators from smaller cities
Current AI Use Cases in India
AI tools are already being deployed in several sectors:
- Healthcare: Early detection of tuberculosis and diabetic retinopathy at district health centres.
- Agriculture: Crop advisory and soil analysis platforms enabling data-driven farming decisions.
- Dairy Industry: AI systems developed by Amul provide real-time guidance to thousands of women dairy farmers in regional languages, improving productivity and cattle health.
According to the Prime Minister, AI must reach the last mile — it cannot remain confined to urban elites.
Stronger Safeguards and AI Regulation
While encouraging innovation, India is also tightening its regulatory framework around AI.
The government has called for global AI governance principles that include:
- Human oversight
- Transparency
- Safety-by-design systems
- Strict action against AI misuse (deepfakes, crime, terrorism)
India has launched the IndiaAI Safety Institute to promote ethical and responsible AI deployment.
New regulations now require:
- Watermarking of AI-generated content
- Faster removal of harmful synthetic media
The Prime Minister also highlighted concerns about AI bias, especially in a linguistically and culturally diverse country like India. AI models trained primarily on English or urban datasets may not perform well for rural or regional-language users.
Efforts are underway to build diverse datasets and localized AI models.
Digital Public Infrastructure + AI = India’s Next Leap
India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, including platforms such as:
- Aadhaar
- Unified Payments Interface
has demonstrated how technology can scale to serve over a billion people.
Integrating AI into this infrastructure could improve:
- Welfare targeting
- Fraud detection
- Urban planning
- Governance efficiency
According to PM Modi, India is uniquely positioned to ensure that AI benefits reach rural citizens, informal workers, small entrepreneurs, and students in smaller towns.
The goal is not AI adoption for its own sake, but AI that accelerates India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Global Leaders Gather in New Delhi
The summit has drawn global leaders, tech CEOs, and policymakers.
Among the attendees:
- Emmanuel Macron (France)
- Anura Kumara Dissanayake (Sri Lanka)
- Bharrat Jagdeo (Guyana)
Industry representatives from major technology companies and global AI research bodies are also participating in discussions on governance, investment, and infrastructure growth.
India is positioning this summit as the first major AI gathering of its kind in the Global South, signaling its ambition to play a central role in global AI dialogue.
“Technology Must Serve Humanity”
Framing the discussion around India’s philosophy of “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya” (welfare and happiness for all), the Prime Minister emphasized that AI must remain human-centric.
Technology, he stated, should serve individuals — not replace them.
As AI transforms industries worldwide, India’s approach appears focused on balancing:
- Innovation with safeguards
- Growth with inclusion
- Ambition with responsibility
The message is clear: India is preparing not just to adapt to the AI revolution, but to shape it.
