PM puts MANAV at heart of AI vision

Welcoming world leaders to the AI Impact Summit 2026, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Thursday said India thinks differently from "some countries and companies" that view artificial intelligence (AI) as a "strategic asset" that must be developed confidentially.

- ARCHIS MOHAN

The PM said AI must not reduce human beings to mere data points or raw material. He called for its democratisation, positioning it as a tool of inclusion and empowerment, particularly across the Global South. Modi highlighted India’s "diversity, demography, and democracy", saying these would ensure that any AI model that succeeds in India can be deployed globally.

He outlined India’s AI vision as MANAV, meaning human. This includes moral and ethical systems, with AI built on ethical guidelines; accountable governance through transparent rules and robust oversight; national sovereignty, with data belonging to those who generate it; accessibility and inclusivity, without monopolies and with a multiplier effect; and validity and legitimacy, ensuring AI is lawful and verifiable. "India’s MANAV vision will be a vital link for human welfare in the AI-driven world of the 21st century."

More than 100 countries participated in the summit, including 20 heads of state and government, among them French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Swiss President Guy Parmelin, along with chief executive officers of leading global technology (tech) companies and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

On Friday, the concluding day of the summit, a leaders' declaration is slated to be signed. Sources said India could also join the US-led Pax Silica initiative on the sidelines of the summit.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, and Indian officials will be present.

The PM invited world leaders and tech leaders attending the event at Bharat Mandapam to "design and develop in India; deliver to the world; deliver to humanity".