Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stressed that as the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is discussed, the aspirations and priorities of the Global South must be placed at the centre of AI governance.
In his remarks at the Leaders’ Plenary Session during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, PM Modi said that while technology in the past created divisions, AI must now be accessible and within everyone’s reach.
He highlighted that ethics have always been central to human progress, but with AI the scope of unethical behaviour is unlimited.
He emphasised that ethical norms for AI must also be unlimited.
The Prime Minister stated that AI companies carry a major responsibility to focus not only on profit but also on purpose, and underscored the need for strong ethical commitments.
He added that at a personal level, AI is already influencing human learning, intelligence, and emotions.
For ethical AI use, the Prime Minister offered three suggestions:
AI training must respect data sovereignty and be based on a trusted global data framework. The Prime Minister highlighted the principle of “garbage in, garbage out,” stressing that if data is not secure, balanced, and reliable, the output cannot be trustworthy.
AI platforms must keep their safety rules clear and transparent. He called for a “glass box” approach instead of a “black box,” where safety rules are visible and verifiable. He noted that this would ensure accountability and strengthen ethical behaviour in business.
AI must be guided by clear human values. The Prime Minister cited the “paper clip problem” as an example, where a machine given a single goal could exhaust all global resources to achieve it.
He underlined that while technology is powerful, direction must always be determined by humans.