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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that making artificial intelligence “human-centric instead of machine-centric is vital” as he addressed global leaders, innovators and policymakers at the AI Impact Summit 2026, held on 18–19 February 2026 in New Delhi.
Speaking at what he described as a defining moment in human history, Modi said artificial intelligence belongs in the same league as fire, writing, electricity and the internet, emphasizing that technological transformations that once took decades can now occur within weeks and reshape the entire planet.
“AI is making machines intelligent, but it is even more a force multiplier for human intent,” Modi said. “Making AI human-centric instead of machine-centric is vital.” He stressed that human well-being must remain at the heart of global AI discussions, invoking the principle of “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya”, Welfare for All, Happiness of All.
The summit brought together representatives from more than 100 nations, with innovators showcasing cutting-edge AI products and services. Modi highlighted the presence of thousands of young people at the event, describing it as the largest and most democratised AI summit in the world and an important milestone in India’s development journey.
The Indian leader reiterated his long-held belief that technology must serve people, not the other way around. He pointed to India’s experience with digital public infrastructure, including digital payments and COVID vaccination systems, as examples of inclusive technology deployment. He said the same spirit was visible in AI applications showcased at the summit in areas such as agriculture, security, assistance for persons with disabilities and multilingual tools.
Modi cited examples of AI already empowering communities in India. He referred to “Sarlaben,” an AI-powered digital assistant launched by dairy cooperative AMUL, which provides real-time guidance to 3.6 million dairy farmers, mostly women, on cattle health and productivity in their own language. He also mentioned “Bharat VISTAAR,” an AI-based platform offering multilingual information to farmers on weather conditions and market prices.
Emphasising that humans must never become “mere data points or raw material for machines,” Modi said AI should serve as a tool for global good, particularly benefiting the Global South. To advance this vision, India presented the MANAV framework for human-centric AI governance, outlining principles of Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty over data, Accessibility and Inclusivity, and Validity and Legitimacy under the law.
He warned that trust will determine AI’s future, particularly as generative systems increase risks of deepfakes and disinformation. Comparing digital content to food products, he argued that it should carry authenticity labels. Modi urged the global community to develop shared standards for watermarking and source verification, noting that India has already mandated clear labelling of synthetically generated content.
The Prime Minister also stressed safeguards for children in AI systems and called for open platforms that allow broader participation, arguing that technology yields its greatest benefit when shared rather than guarded as a strategic asset. He said AI should evolve as a global common good.
Looking ahead, Modi predicted that humans and intelligent systems will co-create, co-work and co-evolve, generating entirely new professions. He expressed confidence that India’s youth would drive the AI age, supported by large-scale skilling and reskilling programmes.
He highlighted India’s infrastructure efforts under the India AI Mission, including the deployment of thousands of GPUs, plans for further expansion, and the establishment of a national AI repository to democratise access to datasets and AI models. With a strong focus on the full value chain — from semiconductors and data infrastructure to startups and applied research, Modi said India is positioning itself to harness AI’s full potential.
“Design and develop in India. Deliver to the world. Deliver to humanity,” Modi concluded, framing India’s vision for an inclusive, human-centered AI future.