India Sees Artificial Intelligence as Destiny, Not a Threat: Prime Minister Outlines MANAV Vision
- MGMMTeam
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that India views artificial intelligence as a defining opportunity rather than a technological threat. Addressing global leaders, researchers, and industry experts in New Delhi, he described AI as a historic turning point comparable to major milestones that reshaped human civilization. He noted that technological revolutions in the past took decades to spread, whereas AI is advancing at unprecedented speed, making responsible governance and human-centric innovation more important than ever.
The Prime Minister highlighted that AI should be seen as a tool to expand human potential and productivity. Instead of focusing on fears of disruption, nations should concentrate on how intelligent technologies can solve real-world problems, improve public services, and accelerate development across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance.
The MANAV Vision: Human-Centric and Ethical AI
A key highlight of the address was the introduction of the MANAV framework, a comprehensive approach to ensure that artificial intelligence remains rooted in human values. The term “MANAV,” meaning human, represents principles focused on ethical systems, accountable governance, national data sovereignty, inclusive access, and lawful technological deployment. The vision aims to prevent the concentration of technological power in the hands of a few corporations or countries while ensuring that developing nations also benefit from AI advancements.
The framework reflects India’s broader philosophy that innovation must serve humanity collectively. By prioritizing inclusivity and fairness, the initiative seeks to create an ecosystem where AI empowers societies rather than deepening inequality. The emphasis on accessibility also aligns with India’s digital public infrastructure model, which has already demonstrated how technology can reach millions at scale.
Human–AI Collaboration and the Future of Work
Addressing global concerns regarding employment, the Prime Minister stated that the impact of AI on jobs is not predetermined but depends on human decisions, policies, and institutional readiness. He expressed confidence that, just as previous technological revolutions created new industries, AI will generate new opportunities and forms of employment that are difficult to imagine today.
He described the future as an era of collaboration between humans and intelligent systems, where both will co-create and co-evolve. Rather than replacing people, AI has the potential to enhance human intelligence, improve efficiency, and unlock creativity across professions. This perspective positions AI as a partner in progress rather than a competitor.
Global Cooperation, Trust, and Responsible Innovation
The Prime Minister also stressed the need for international cooperation to establish global standards for AI safety and trust. Concerns such as deepfakes, misinformation, and digital manipulation require coordinated responses, including technological safeguards like watermarking and content authentication. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that AI ecosystems remain safe for children and families, reinforcing trust in emerging technologies.
India’s approach, he suggested, could act as a bridge between advanced and developing economies by promoting equitable access to AI tools and knowledge. With its large digital user base and growing innovation ecosystem, the country aims to play a constructive leadership role in shaping the future of global AI governance.
The MGMM Outlook
India’s articulation of artificial intelligence as a catalyst for national growth reflects a confident shift toward technology-led development that prioritizes human empowerment over fear-driven narratives. By positioning AI as an opportunity to expand productivity across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and governance, the leadership under Narendra Modi signals an ambition to integrate innovation with grassroots impact. The emphasis on speed of technological change compared to past industrial revolutions also highlights the urgency for nations to adapt policies, infrastructure, and skills ecosystems to remain competitive, particularly in emerging economies like India.
The proposed MANAV framework introduces an approach that balances technological advancement with ethics, accountability, and inclusivity, reinforcing the idea that innovation must remain anchored in societal welfare rather than corporate concentration. By advocating global cooperation, safety standards, and equitable access, India is attempting to position itself as a bridge between advanced and developing nations in shaping AI governance. The focus on human–AI collaboration instead of job displacement also presents a constructive narrative about the future of work, suggesting that with the right policies and education systems, intelligent technologies can enhance creativity, generate new industries, and strengthen long-term economic resilience while keeping human values at the center of progress.
(Sources: Firstpost, LiveMint, Moneycontrol)
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