Johannesburg — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged G20 nations to work together on a “global compact on Artificial Intelligence” to prevent misuse of emerging technologies, including deepfakes, cybercrime, and terrorism. The comments were made during a G20 session titled “A Fair and a Just Future for All – Critical Minerals; Decent Work; Artificial Intelligence” on the second day of the summit.
Modi said India’s AI strategy is grounded in accessibility, skills development, and responsible use, adding that global safeguards are needed to ensure AI benefits all societies. “We need a global compact built on fundamental principles such as effective human oversight, safety-by-design, transparency, and strict prohibitions on the use of AI for deepfakes, crime, and terrorist activities,” he said.
The Prime Minister also invited all G20 countries to participate in the AI Impact Summit scheduled to be held in India in February 2026.
Highlighting India’s efforts, Modi said the India-AI Mission aims to deliver accessible high-performance computing across every district and language, accelerating human development. He emphasised that while AI may enhance human capability, “ultimate responsibility for decision-making must always remain with human beings.”
Modi called for a shift in global thinking from “jobs of today” to “capabilities of tomorrow,” stressing that talent mobility will be essential for innovation. He urged the G20 to work toward a global framework on mobility in the coming years.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the concentration of emerging technologies in the hands of a few, warning that intensified competition could hinder global innovation. He said technology must become human-centric, globally accessible, and open-source, reflecting India’s model of digital development. He noted that India now records the highest volume of digital payments worldwide.
On the sidelines of the summit, Modi held bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with whom he discussed strengthening cooperation in innovation, defence, and talent mobility. He also met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. (Source: IndianExpress)
