AI Summit: PM Modi bats for democratisation of AI, making it human-centric

At the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, the Prime Minister said AI must remain human-centric and inclusive, warning that directionless use could turn a transformative force into disruption

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for the democratisation of artificial intelligence (AI), urging that the technology be made human-centric and aligned with the welfare of all, particularly for the Global South.

 

Delivering his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, PM Modi said, "Some countries believe that AI should be developed in a confidential and closed manner. But India is different. We believe AI will truly serve the good of the world when it is shared and its codes are open. Only then will millions of young minds be able to improve it further." 

  PM Modi said that to ensure humans are not reduced to mere raw material for AI models, the technology must be democratised. "We must give AI an open sky and also keep the command in our hands, like GPS. GPS shows us the way, but the final call on which direction we should go is ours. The direction in which we take AI today will determine our future," he said.  

AI as a transformative force

 

Describing AI as a transformative power in human history, PM Modi said its scale and speed are unprecedented. "AI is making machines intelligent, but more than that, it is increasing human capabilities manyfold. There is only one difference: this time the speed is unprecedented and the scale is also unexpected," he said. 

 

"When signals were first transmitted wirelessly, no one imagined that the entire world would one day be connected in real time. Artificial intelligence is such a transformation of human history. What we are seeing today, what we are predicting, is just the beginning of its impact," he added.

PM Modi cautions against AI's misuse

 

The Prime Minister said that AI is a transformative power, but if directionless, it may become disruptive. "In AI, the scope for unethical behaviour is limitless. Therefore, we must expand the framework of ethical behaviour and norms for AI. AI companies carry a very significant responsibility," he said. 

 

PM Modi warned against deepfakes and fabricated content, saying they bring instability to open societies.  He also made three suggestions for the ethical use of AI. "First, while respecting data sovereignty, we should create a clear data framework for AI training. Second, AI platforms must keep their safety rules very clear and transparent. Third, AI requires clear human values. Technology may be powerful, but direction will always be determined by human beings," he said.

India leading, shaping AI revolution: PM

 

The Prime Minister said that India is not just a part of the AI revolution, but is leading and shaping it. "India not only builds technology but also adopts it at an unprecedented pace," he said.

 

"Some people have doubts about new technology. But the way the younger generation is embracing AI is unprecedented. There has also been tremendous enthusiasm here regarding the AI Summit exhibition," he added.

 

 He also pointed to solutions showcased at the summit in areas such as agriculture, security and multilingual needs as examples of Made in India innovation.

 

PM unveils 'MANAV Vision'

 

PM Modi also unveiled India’s ‘MANAV Vision’ for AI, a human-centric framework to ensure technology advances with ethics and public trust. He said 'MANAV' represents five pillars: moral and ethical systems, accountable governance, national sovereignty, accessible and inclusive technology, and valid, legitimate systems guiding India’s AI future.

  (With inputs from agencies)