AI MUST EMPOWER PEOPLE, NOT REPLACE THEM, SAYS PM MODI AT G7 SESSION

New Delhi, Jun 18, 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Artificial Intelligence (AI) must remain human-centric, inclusive and guided by strong ethical frameworks, stressing that technology should ultimately serve people rather than replace them.

Delivering India’s statement at the G7 Summit session titled “Ensuring a Safe, Rapid and Efficient Rollout of AI”, PM Modi said AI is among the most transformative technologies ever created and is reshaping nearly every aspect of human life. He noted that it is accelerating scientific research, improving governance, and transforming sectors such as healthcare, education and manufacturing.

The PM said the real measure of AI is not its technical power but its ability to empower ordinary citizens. Citing India’s approach, he referred to the “MANAV” vision presented at the AI Impact Summit held this year, which places human beings at the centre of AI development. He also noted that this approach aligns with global ethical concerns, including recent messages emphasising human values, inclusivity and meaningful human oversight in AI systems.

PM Modi underlined the importance of ensuring child safety in the deployment of AI technologies. While highlighting AI’s potential to enhance personalised learning, creativity and access to education in native languages, he warned that inadequate safeguards could expose children to risks such as misinformation, deepfakes and exploitation.

Prime Minister Modi said the difference between positive and negative outcomes lies not in technology itself, but in the values, design choices and governance frameworks that guide its use. He stressed the need to ensure that the digital ecosystem becomes a platform for learning and growth rather than manipulation.

Highlighting cybersecurity challenges, the Prime Minister said frontier AI models present new opportunities but also new risks. He reiterated India’s view that cyberspace should be treated as a global public good, adding that access to critical AI technologies must be broad and inclusive to help countries protect their digital infrastructure and respond to cyber threats.

Outlining India’s approach, PM Modi made several key suggestions for global cooperation on AI governance. He called for the promotion of “safe-by-design” AI systems, where safety is built into technology from the outset rather than added later. He also advocated the creation of common standards, testing frameworks and regulatory sandboxes to ensure innovation and regulation progress together, drawing parallels with global systems in civil aviation and maritime transport.

Additionally, the PM called for stronger international cooperation to combat deepfakes, misinformation and cyber fraud, suggesting wider use of technologies such as digital watermarking and content authentication tools. He also stressed the need to ensure that AI benefits reach the Global South, warning against widening global inequalities in access to advanced technologies.

Further, PM Modi said AI should be used to expand human potential, enable informed decision-making and safeguard human dignity. He added that India will continue to work with global partners to ensure responsible, safe and inclusive development of artificial intelligence.