Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that artificial intelligence (AI) must be democratised and harnessed as a tool for inclusion and empowerment, especially for countries of the Global South.
Addressing the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, Modi described artificial intelligence as a transformative milestone in human history, comparable to pivotal turning points that have shaped entire centuries.
“Artificial intelligence marks a transformative chapter in human history. India is not just a part of the AI revolution, but is leading and shaping it,” the Prime Minister said in the presence of world leaders and top CEOs from leading global companies.
Highlighting India’s strengths, Modi said the summit was being hosted in a nation that represents one-sixth of humanity, has the world’s largest young population, and serves as a hub of one of the largest technology talent pools globally. He emphasized that India not only builds cutting-edge technology but also adopts it at an unprecedented pace.
Addressing concerns surrounding emerging technologies, the Prime Minister noted the enthusiasm of India’s youth in embracing AI. “Some people have doubts about new technology. But the way the younger generation is embracing AI is unprecedented,” he said, adding that there was tremendous interest in the summit’s AI exhibition.
Several global leaders attended the summit, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Seychelles Vice President Sébastien Pillay, Estonian President Alar Karis, and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
Modi concluded by underlining that AI represents one of the defining transformations of the modern era, with the potential to set the course of global development for decades to come.
