In a landmark address at the Bharat Mandapam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that while some see fear in Artificial Intelligence, "India finds its future in it." Speaking on Day 4 of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Prime Minister outlined a transformative framework for ethical technology, emphasizing that AI must serve as a tool for inclusion rather than a source of disruption.
The summit, which has drawn global tech titans and heads of state from over 20 countries, serves as a pivotal moment for India’s digital sovereignty.
The MANAV Vision: Putting Humans First
Central to the Prime Minister’s address was the introduction of the MANAV Vision (meaning 'human' in Hindi). This five-pillar framework aims to guide the development of India AI Impact Summit 2026 initiatives toward a global ethical standard:
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M – Moral and Ethical Systems: Prioritizing values over mere algorithms.
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A – Accountable Governance: Establishing clear, verifiable rules for AI behavior.
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N – National Sovereignty: Ensuring data belongs to its rightful owners.
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A – Accessible and Inclusive: Democratizing technology for the Global South.
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V – Valid and Legitimate: Guaranteeing that AI applications are legal and transparent.
"AI should have an open sky, but humans should remain in control," PM Modi stated, likening AI to a GPS where technology guides us, but humanity chooses the destination.
Authenticity Labels and the 'Nutrition' of Data
In a push for digital transparency, the Prime Minister proposed a revolutionary concept: authenticity labels. Similar to nutrition labels on food packaging, these digital tags would help citizens distinguish between human-generated and AI-generated content, tackling the rising threat of deepfakes and misinformation.
Industry Titans Pledge Trillions to India’s AI Future
The summit saw massive financial commitments from the world’s leading business figures, solidifying India's position as a global tech hub.
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Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries): Announced a staggering ₹10 lakh crore investment to usher India into the "Intelligence Age." Ambani famously called AI the "modern-day Akshaya Patra," promising it would enrich all sectors without displacing jobs.
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N. Chandrasekaran (Tata Sons): Confirmed the launch of India’s first large-scale AI-optimized data center in partnership with OpenAI, starting at 100 MW capacity.
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Sundar Pichai (Google): Revealed a $15 billion infrastructure investment, including a ‘full-stack AI hub’ in Vishakhapatnam and new subsea fiber optic cables connecting the US and India.
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Sam Altman (OpenAI): Noted that India is the fastest-growing market for OpenAI, with over 100 million weekly ChatGPT users.
Global Collaboration for the Global South
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has become a platform for international diplomacy. French President Emmanuel Macron praised India’s "sovereign choice" to focus on task-specific models for smartphones, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged for AI that protects both people and the planet.
As the summit concludes on February 20, the consensus remains clear: India is no longer just a consumer of global technology—it is now the architect of its ethical future.
