Day 4 of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 marked one of the most crucial moments of the six-day artificial intelligence festival underway in the national capital. The gathering at Bharat Mandapam saw global leaders, technology executives and policymakers outline their vision for the future of AI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the opening ceremony of the summit on Thursday, 19 February. Alongside him, prominent voices from the tech and business world including Mukesh Ambani, Sam Altman, and Sundar Pichai delivered keynote sessions. French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the Delhi AI Summit.
Touted as the first edition of its kind in the ‘Global South’, the summit aims to bring together heads of state, senior ministers, global technology leaders, researchers and startup founders to shape the AI agenda.
At the summit, PM Modi unveiled India’s M.A.N.A.V. Vision for AI, outlining a framework for responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence development.
He explained that M.A.N.A.V. stands for:
M – Moral and Ethical Systems: AI must be based on ethical guidelines.
A – Accountable Governance: Transparent rules and robust oversight.
N – National Sovereignty: Data belongs to its rightful owner.
A – Accessible and Inclusive: AI must not be a monopoly, but a multiplier.
V – Valid and Legitimate: AI must be lawful and verifiable.
The Prime Minister asserted that India’s M.A.N.A.V. Vision will serve as a vital link for humanity’s welfare in the AI-driven 21st century.
Addressing the gathering in New Delhi, PM Modi described artificial intelligence as a historic transformation comparable to the shift from wireless communication to real-time global connectivity.
He noted that AI represents a significant turning point in human history and emphasised that its impact is only just beginning. According to him, AI has the potential to elevate humanity to new heights.
“AI will be beneficial for all only when it is shared by all, when code is open for all,” he said.
The Prime Minister highlighted that AI is not just about making machines smarter but about amplifying human capabilities. “There is only one difference: this time, the speed is unprecedented, and the scale is also unexpected. Earlier, the impact of technology used to take decades to be visible. Today, the journey from machine learning to learning machines is faster, deeper and wider than ever,” he added.
He stressed the need for a broad and forward-looking vision, stating that the global community must shoulder equal responsibility. “Along with the present generation, we also have to worry about what form of AI we will hand over to the coming generations,” he said.
According to PM Modi, the key question is not what AI will achieve in the future, but how humans utilise AI in the present. He called for skilling, reskilling and lifelong learning to become a mass movement.
“The future of work will be inclusive, trusted, and human-centric. If we move forward together, artificial intelligence will elevate the potential of humanity,” he added.
The Prime Minister described AI as a transformative force that can become disruptive if directionless but a powerful solution when guided correctly.
“How to make AI from machine-centric to human-centric, how to make it sensitive and responsive, this is the basic objective of this Global AI Impact Summit. The theme of this summit clearly reflects the perspective from which India views AI. Welfare of all, the happiness of all. This is our benchmark,” PM Modi stated.
He emphasised that AI must be democratised and should not reduce individuals to mere data points or raw material. Instead, AI should serve as a tool for inclusion and empowerment, especially for countries in the Global South.
“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 added.
PM Modi urged world leaders to commit to developing AI as a “global common good” and highlighted the urgent need for global standards.
Referring to challenges such as deepfakes and fabricated digital content, he proposed authenticity labels for online content to distinguish real material from AI-generated creations. “As AI creates more text, images, and video, the industry increasingly needs watermarking and clear-source standards. Therefore, it’s crucial that this trust is built into the technology from the start,” he stated.
He concluded by saying that the world is entering an era where “humans and intelligent systems co-create, co-work, and co-evolve”.
In a major announcement, Mukesh Ambani revealed that Reliance Industries and its telecom arm Jio will invest ₹10 trillion (₹10 lakh crore) in artificial intelligence over the next seven years.
“Jio, together with Reliance, will invest Rs 10 lakh crore over the next seven years starting this year. This is not a speculative investment. It is not about chasing valuations. This is patient, disciplined, nation-building capital designed to create durable economic value and strategic resilience for decades to come,” he said. Ambani outlined a three-part strategy aimed at transitioning India from the internet era to what he termed the “intelligence era.”
All in all, the fourth day of the event underscored India’s ambition to play a central role in shaping an inclusive and responsible global AI ecosystem.
Answer. It is a framework for responsible AI development: Moral systems, Accountable governance, National sovereignty, Accessibility, and Validity.
Answer. Reliance Industries and Jio will invest ₹10 lakh crore over seven years in artificial intelligence to democratise opportunity and drive innovation.
Answer. He urged leaders to treat AI as a global common good, stressing democratisation, inclusion, and safeguards like watermarking to combat deepfakes.
Highlights OpenAI will open offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru in 2026, expanding beyond New Delhi.…
Highlights Bill Gates cancelled his keynote at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 after “careful…
Highlights Vivo V70 Elite and Vivo V70 launch in India with V70 Elite price starting…
Highlights Nothing warns of rising fake accessories and CMF devices in India. Delhi Police raids…
Highlights The newly launched Google Pixel 10a at around ₹49,999 offers the most affordable entry…
Highlights Infinix XPAD 30E debuts in Indonesia at Rp 2,394,000 (around $148) for 4GB RAM…
This website uses cookies.