Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said here on Tuesday that Artificial Intelligence (AI) must serve humanity; it should not be allowed to become a tool for controlling humans. In this context, he stressed the need to root AI with spiritual wisdom and ethical responsibility with assertion to make it a force of societal well being.
Birla made these remarks while delivering inaugural address at an international conference titled “Faith and Future: Integrating AI with Spirituality” at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar.
The conference is being organised in collaboration with the US-based agency Future of Life Institute.
The Lok Sabha speaker underlined that the true purpose of technology is to enrich and elevate human experience, not to replace it. “While AI poses several challenges, it also offers the seeds of innovative solutions. India’s core strengths of morality can be shared globally and AI could serve as a powerful medium to disseminate ancient Indian wisdom and knowledge to the world,” he said.
Recalling India’s age-old belief ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one family) and ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’ (May all be happy), he reiterated that AI development must be inclusive and equitable to ensure benefits reach the entire humanity.
Birla noted that the “AI as a powerful tool, must be balanced with wisdom and patience to yield positive results. Compassion, empathy and human values will guide convergence of AI with spirituality and lay the foundation for a just and equitable future.”
The Lok Sabha speaker highlighted the transformative potential of AI in healthcare, education, agriculture and public welfare claiming it could significantly improve the quality of people’s life.
He expressed the hope that the conference would mark the beginning of a meaningful global dialogue between spirituality and modern technological advancement leading humanity to a more compassionate and ethical future.