NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the plenary session at the AI Impact Summit, calling on the global community to transform the current technological disruption into humanity’s greatest opportunity.Addressing the plenary session, PM Modi expressed confidence that the summit would help shape a more ethical and responsive digital future.Apart from his address, what also stood out was the nameplate at the table behind which he was seated.Instead of “India,” the placard read “Bharat.”This is not the first time the name “Bharat” has been used for the country at official global events.During the G20 Summit held in New Delhi in 2024, a “Bharat” placard was used, triggering widespread debate. Additionally, “India” was replaced with “Bharat” in President Droupadi Murmu’s invitation to world leaders.“Bharat” was also used in a G20 booklet meant for foreign delegates titled “Bharat, The Mother of Democracy.” The booklet stated: “Bharat is the official name of the country. It is mentioned in the Constitution as also in the discussions of 1946–48.”‘Right action comes from right understanding’“It is believed that this summit will play a crucial role in building a human-centric, sensitive global AI ecosystem. If we look at history, we see that humans have transformed every disruption into a new opportunity. Today, we once again face such an opportunity. Together, we must transform this disruption into humanity’s biggest opportunity,” PM Modi said in his address at the plenary session.Invoking the teachings of Lord Buddha, PM Modi underlined the importance of clarity and timely decision-making in AI governance.“India is the land of Buddha, and Lord Buddha said, ‘Right action comes from right understanding.’ Therefore, it is very important that we together create a roadmap that shows the true impact of AI. True impact comes only when one takes the right decisions at the right time with the right intention,” he observed.Drawing a parallel with recent global challenges, the Prime Minister highlighted the collaborative response during the COVID-19 pandemic.“During the global COVID pandemic, the world saw that when we stand together, even the impossible becomes possible. From vaccine development to supply chains, from data sharing to saving lives, collaboration provided solutions,” he said.Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister participated in the opening ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The ceremony was also addressed by French President Emmanuel Macron, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and several top industry leaders from across the world.The first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South reflects on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with the national vision of “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” and the global principle of AI for Humanity.
