AI must be democratised, developed as global common good: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for democratising artificial intelligence and developing it as a “global common good”, while urging nations to establish global standards and safeguards against deepfakes and fabricated content.

Addressing leaders at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, PM Modi said AI is a transformative force that can either become a disruptive power if directionless or a solution if guided by human-centric values.

“AI is a transformative power. If directionless, it becomes a disruption; if the right direction is found, it becomes a solution,” the prime minister said.

He said that India views artificial intelligence through the lens of “welfare of all and happiness of all”.

Stressing that humans should not be reduced to mere data points, Modi said AI must move from being machine-centric to human-centric, sensitive and responsive.

“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,” he said.

Calling for international cooperation, PM Modi urged countries to develop common standards and embed trust into AI systems from the outset.

“Let us pledge to develop AI as a global common good. A crucial need today is to establish global standards. Deepfakes and fabricated content are destabilising open societies,” he said.

He emphasised the need for authenticity labels, watermarking and clear source standards for AI-generated content so that users can distinguish between real and synthetic media.

He also underlined the importance of skilling, reskilling and lifelong learning to prepare societies for rapid AI-led transformation.

“We must make skilling, reskilling and lifelong learning a mass movement. The future of work will be inclusive, trusted and human-centric,” the prime minister said.