External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday urged a balanced and responsible approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI), highlighting the need for trust and safety to guide innovation. He spoke at the inaugural session of the Trust and Safety India Festival (TASI) 2025, a prelude to the AI Impact Summit 2026.

Jaishankar noted AI’s transformative potential across economies, healthcare, education, and lifestyles, stressing that its pervasiveness demands robust governance. “The difference with the past is that this particular transformation will impact every citizen in every corner of the world. New efficiencies and possibilities will emerge, but so too will new players and new power centres,” he said.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the EAM said, “Technology is a force for good, but only if humanity guides it.” He emphasised indigenous AI tools, self-assessment protocols, and clear guidelines to ensure safe and accessible AI for all.

Highlighting India’s global digital leadership, Jaishankar pointed out that other nations, especially in the Global South, look to India as a model for digital public infrastructure and governance. He stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement to address ethical, privacy, and bias concerns, while strengthening public trust in institutions.

Jaishankar also highlighted India’s proactive role in global AI governance, citing initiatives such as the Global Partnership on AI, the New Delhi Declarations, and participation in AI summits in Bletchley Park, Seoul, and Paris. He said the upcoming AI Impact Summit in 2026 will continue to shape responsible, inclusive, and people-centric AI policies.

Concluding, the EAM underlined the importance of collective responsibility, inclusivity, and multi-stakeholder dialogue in guiding AI, calling TASI 2025 a strong signal of India’s commitment to safe, ethical, and innovative technology deployment.