Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday unveiled the ‘MANAV’ vision for artificial intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, setting out a human-centred framework that he said would guide the future direction of AI development in India and beyond.
Addressing global leaders, technology executives, and policymakers in Delhi, the Prime Minister said the debate was no longer about what artificial intelligence could achieve in the future, but about how it should be used responsibly in the present.
“We have to have a big vision and shoulder an equally big responsibility. Along with the present generation, we also have to worry about what form of AI we will hand over to the coming generations. Therefore, the real question today is not what Artificial Intelligence can do in the future. The question is, what do we do with Artificial Intelligence in the present? Such questions have come before humanity before. The most powerful example is nuclear power. We have seen its destruction, and its positive contribution has also been seen…”
What is the MANAV vision?
The Prime Minister described MANAV as a human vision for technology, outlining five principles:
- M – Moral and ethical systems
- A – Accountable governance
- N – National sovereignty
- A – Accessible and inclusive systems
- V – Valid and legitimate frameworks
“Today at the New Delhi AI Impact Summit, I present the MANAV Vision for AI. MANAV means human, and MANAV Vision says M- moral and ethical systems: AI should be based on ethical guidance. A- accountable governance means transparent rules, robust oversight; N- national sovereignty means whose data, his right. A- accessible and inclusive means AI should be a multiplier, not a monopoly. V- valid and legitimate means AI should be lawful and verifiable. This MANAV vision of India will become an important link for the welfare of humanity in the AI-based world of the 21st century…”
The M.A.N.A.V. vision for AI. pic.twitter.com/NVmxQ8bXq6
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 19, 2026
He stressed that artificial intelligence must move from being machine-centric to human-centric.
“AI is a transformative power. If directionless, it becomes a disruption; if the right direction is found, it becomes a solution. 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…”
‘AI is a transformation of human history’
PM Modi described artificial intelligence as a defining shift in human civilisation, comparing it to the early days of wireless communication.
“When signals were first transmitted wirelessly, no one imagined that the entire world would one day be connected in real time. Artificial Intelligence is such a transformation of human history. What we are seeing today, what we are predicting, is just the beginning of its impact…”
He noted that AI’s pace and reach were unprecedented.
“AI is making machines intelligent, but more than that, it is increasing human capabilities manyfold. 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.”
Democratising AI and protecting sovereignty
The Prime Minister warned against reducing humans to mere data points and called for the democratisation of AI, particularly for the Global South.
“For AI, humans are just data points. To ensure that humans are not reduced to mere raw material, AI must be democratised. It must be made a medium for inclusion and empowerment, especially 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 also emphasised skilling and lifelong learning as critical to preparing societies for AI-driven change.
“We must make skilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning 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.”
Global participation at summit
Calling it the “most historic AI Summit of the world,” PM Modi said it was a matter of pride for the Global South that the summit was being organised in India.
“The pace with which the world’s youth are embracing AI and taking ownership of it is commendable. There is tremendous enthusiasm among young people for the AI Summit….”
The Prime Minister posed for a group photograph with global technology leaders, including Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Meta’s Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.
The summit also featured live AI-enabled sign language interpretation of the Prime Minister’s speech.