Need global compact on AI to prevent its misuse: PM Modi at G20

“Under the India-AI Mission, we are developing accessible high-performance computing so that the benefits of AI reach every district and every language. This will provide both scale and speed to our efforts toward human development,” the Prime Minister said.

“At the same time, we must all ensure that AI is used for the global good and that its misuse is prevented. For this, we need a global compact on AI, built upon certain fundamental principles. These should include effective human oversight, safety-by-design, transparency, and strict prohibitions on the use of AI for deepfakes, crime, and terrorist activities,” Modi said, highlighting the basic principles.

“AI systems that impact human life, security, or public trust must be responsible and auditable. And most importantly, while AI may enhance human capabilities, the ultimate responsibility for decision-making must always remain with human beings,” he said.

In this age of AI, the Prime Minister said, “We must swiftly shift our approach from the ‘jobs of today’ to the ‘capabilities of tomorrow’. Unlocking talent mobility is essential for rapid innovation. We made progress on this issue at the New Delhi G20 Summit. We hope that in the coming years, the G20 will develop a global framework for talent mobility.”

He also called for a fundamental change in the way critical technologies are promoted.

“As technology continues to advance, both opportunities and resources are becoming increasingly concentrated in a few hands. Around the world, competition over critical technologies is intensifying. This is a matter of concern for humanity, and it also poses an obstacle to innovation. To address this, we must bring about a fundamental change in our approach,” he said.

“We must promote technology applications that are ‘human-centric’ rather than ‘finance-centric’, that are ‘global’ rather than merely ‘national’, and that follow ‘open-source’ models rather than ‘exclusive’ ones. India has sought to integrate this very vision into all of its technology projects,” he said.

For this very reason, India today records the highest number of digital payments in the world, he said.

Modi also met the newly appointed Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the sidelines of the G20 leaders’ summit, and posted on X, “Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan. We discussed ways to add momentum to bilateral cooperation in areas such as innovation, defence, talent mobility and more. We are also looking to enhance trade ties between our nations. A strong India-Japan partnership is vital for a better planet.”

He also met Canadian PM Mark Carney, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva among other world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit.