PM Modi's algorithm of artificial intelligence for India

"Intelligence and intentions define the future of AI: intelligence by machines, intentions by humans." — A reflection shaped by Gandhian values and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ethical vision for technology

- SHWETA MAHENDRA

As we shape the future of artificial intelligence, let us remember that actual progress is not defined solely by how intelligent our machines become, but by how ethically and purposefully they act.

When we speak of "human-like" AI, we often romanticize humans as inherently moral, gentle, and just. However, this view is incomplete. Humanity embodies both good and evil, as well as compassion and cruelty, reason and impulse. Designing AI to merely mimic human actions risks replicating both its virtues and its flaws.

In contrast, nature, shaped by divine order, exists in a state of equilibrium. It operates with neutrality, balance, and systemic logic. When this balance is disturbed, it is often not nature itself, but human interference that causes catastrophe. As AI evolves, nature will inevitably confront it with challenges that are unpredictable and profound. Therefore, our goal should not be to build AI that imitates human behavior. We must design AI to act wisely, reflecting the best of what humanity aspires to be.

Intelligence is only part of the equation—intention is what gives it meaning. And that intention must be guided by human ethics.

This becomes particularly significant in the age of transformative AI architectures—Large Language Models (LLMs) and the emerging class of Large Reasoning Models (LRMs). While LLMs excel at generating contextually rich and syntactically precise content, LRMs are designed to embed ethical cognition, cultural literacy, and normative reasoning into complex decisions.

If LLMs represent the cognitive capacity of machines, LRMs serve as the conscience that grounds them. India must now pioneer the next frontier: Ethical Responsibility Models (ERMs)—AI frameworks rooted in a civilizational ethos, ensuring that technological advancements align with our moral fabric and pluralistic values.