Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled what he called the “MANAV Vision” for AI at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, giving India’s aspirations in the field a decidedly human touch. He discussed how AI should be founded on ethical principles while speaking in front of tech giants like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
“MANAV means human,” he explained, introducing an acronym he referred to as the philosophical foundation of India’s AI roadmap. Breaking down the acronym, he explained that M stands for moral and ethical systems: “AI should be based on ethical guidance.” A represents accountable governance with “transparent rules, robust oversight.” N signifies national sovereignty “whose data, his right.” The second A calls for accessible and inclusive AI, ensuring it is “a multiplier, not a monopoly.” Finally, V stands for valid and legitimate systems, meaning AI must be “lawful and verifiable.”
The Prime Minister framed AI as a transformative force with the potential to disrupt or uplift societies depending on its course. “If it is directionless, it becomes a disruption; if the right direction is found, it becomes a solution,” he stated
Modi stated that “deepfakes and fabricated content are destabilising the open society,” and he called for authenticity labels, watermarking, and clear-source standards to help users distinguish between real and artificially generated content. “It’s crucial that this trust is built into the technology from the start,” he said.
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He also identified children’s safety as a priority. “The AI space should also be child safe and family guided,” he said, urging caution as adoption grows. In a broader geopolitical context, Modi positioned India as an advocate for inclusive AI development, particularly in the Global South. “AI must be democratised,” he stated. “To ensure that humans are not reduced to mere raw material, AI must be made a medium for inclusion and empowerment,” he added.
Drawing an analogy to GPS, he said, “GPS shows us the way, but the final decision on which direction we should go is ours.” The same principle, he contended, should guide AI governance.