New Delhi: India carries a “special responsibility” in the global artificial intelligence (AI) arena, particularly as nations of the Global South look to it for inspiration, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Monday.
Speaking at the Trust and Safety India Festival 2025 in New Delhi, Jaishankar highlighted India’s role in shaping digital public infrastructure and underscored the nation’s decade-long progress in governance, public service delivery, and technological innovation. He noted that India’s experiences are increasingly influencing discussions on AI worldwide.
“India bears a special responsibility because many other nations – especially those of the Global South – look to us for inspiration, and certainly in the case of the digital public infrastructure,” Jaishankar stated.
The minister stressed that responsible AI development in India involves creating indigenous tools, frameworks, and self-assessment protocols for innovators while establishing clear guidelines to ensure safe and accessible AI deployment.
“As a Foreign Minister, when I go abroad, this is often the topic of conversation, and I can see very much this being extrapolated into the world of AI as well,” he added.

Jaishankar further highlighted the transformative potential of AI in the coming years, predicting that it will reshape economies, work habits, healthcare solutions, educational access, and lifestyle patterns. He emphasized the need for a balanced approach to AI governance to protect digital citizens while fostering innovation.
“This specific transition that is about to occur will be all-pervasive and not simply sectoral. Every individual in every country will be impacted. There will be new opportunities, but also new players and power centers. Therefore, we must ensure sufficient safeguards,” he said, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that technology is a force for good, but only if guided by humanity.
The festival served as a precursor to the AI Impact Summit 2026, initiating critical discussions on India’s role in global AI development and responsible technology governance.
