AI regulation in India should follow risk-based approach: Trai chairman

Trai Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said India should adopt a risk-based approach to AI regulation, with oversight limited to high-risk use cases while low-risk applications remain under self-regulation

India's telecom regulator has sought a risk-based approach towards regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), where only high-risk use cases should be brought under the regulatory purview.

 

Speaking at a pre-summit event for the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said that low-risk applications that impact users should be kept under self-regulation.

 

The chairman highlighted that the most immediate benefit for consumers through AI deployment was towards securing networks against fraud and unsolicited communications. Lahoti pointed out that AI was now a “foundational capability” for detection systems that shield users from intrusive messages.

 

The technology allows for “predictive and self-healing network operations,” moving away from reactive models to identify anomalies like frequent IMEI changes or suspicious call patterns before they impact the user.

 

He also added that the Indian market had championed the use of “regulatory sandboxes” to test emerging technologies like 5G, 6G, and IoT in live environments.

 

“The regulatory sandbox tests new regulatory technologies in a controlled environment,” Lahoti said, referencing recommendations first discussed in April 2024 to help startups and providers validate business models before a full market rollout.

 

Trai chairman, however, cautioned about the growing reliance on AI-driven automation, which raises concerns around transparency, accountability and human oversight, especially as algorithmic decisions increasingly affect millions of users. He added that telecom was a vital public service, and therefore, “public trust must remain at the core of AI deployment.”

 

With India’s telecom sector managing one of the largest subscriber populations in the world, the chairman noted that AI-driven automation has become essential for managing the sheer scale and complexity of modern systems. He highlighted that the value of AI lies in its ability to streamline operations rather than simply increasing capacity.

 

“Artificial intelligence isn’t just about raw power, it’s really about efficiency,” Lahoti explained, noting that the technology is being used for critical tasks such as network performance optimisation and real-time load balancing.

 

Lahoti also touched upon India’s role in setting global standards, noting ongoing collaboration with international bodies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations to establish ethical AI guidelines. He stressed that AI applications must be guided by principles of “transparency, accountability, and fairness”.