New Delhi, Feb 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a compelling case for democratizing artificial intelligence (AI) to drive inclusion and empowerment worldwide, with a special focus on uplifting the Global South, as he headlined the high-profile India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam.
Addressing an elite gathering of global leaders—including French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif, Estonia’s President Alar Karis, and Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo—Modi positioned India at the forefront of the AI revolution.
“India isn’t just participating in this transformation; we’re leading and shaping it,” Modi declared, underscoring that the host nation represents one-sixth of humanity, boasts the world’s largest youth population, and serves as a global hub for tech talent. He highlighted how India doesn’t merely build technology but adopts it at breakneck speed, fueled by an enthusiastic younger generation that’s dispelling doubts among skeptics.
Modi framed AI as a pivotal “turning point in human history,” akin to those rare moments that redefine civilizations and accelerate progress across centuries. He pointed to the summit’s buzzing exhibition as evidence of unprecedented public excitement around AI’s possibilities, from everyday applications to groundbreaking innovations.
The event underscores India’s growing clout in tech diplomacy, bringing together heads of state, CEOs from top firms, and policymakers to explore AI’s role in sustainable development, ethical governance, and bridging digital divides—especially for developing nations often left behind in the tech race. Modi’s vision aligns with ongoing initiatives like India’s AI Mission, which aims to make advanced tools accessible, affordable, and aligned with local needs, potentially reshaping economies, education, and healthcare in the Global South.
