NEW DELHI: Ahead of the anticipated India AI Impact Summit 2026, Secretary for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), S. Krishnan, shared insights about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize jobs and governance during a conversation at The Hindu's MIND event. With the summit drawing near, which will feature representatives from numerous countries, Krishnan elaborated on India's promising trajectory in AI.

"We are moving towards creating a robust infrastructure for AI that encompasses compute capabilities, datasets, and models," Krishnan stated. He emphasized the government's role in facilitating easier access to these resources, which would ultimately help improve productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness across various sectors. He noted that while some jobs in coding and programming may diminish due to AI adoption, significantly more roles will be generated in areas leveraging AI's capabilities for governance and enterprise solutions.

Krishnan highlighted India's advances in the global AI landscape, noting a ranking of third in the Vibrancy Index and second in AI skill penetration according to research from institutions like Stanford University. These statistics showcase a promising environment for startups that can develop innovative AI solutions, particularly aimed at tackling challenges in developing nations. "Our approach is to do this frugally, which resonates with many countries facing similar resource constraints," he added.

The Secretary also addressed AI regulation, underlining the necessity of balancing innovation with safety. Drawing attention to the governance guidelines chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser, he stated that existing laws, such as the Information Technology Act and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, will form the foundation for regulatory endeavors. New amendments aimed at labeling AI-generated content were introduced to bolster transparency. "It's our right to know whether content is fabricated by AI, and these regulations are a step in that direction," Krishnan concluded.

As the India AI Impact Summit approaches, the prospects laid out by Krishnan suggest that artificial intelligence could be a pivotal element in shaping the nation’s economic and governance landscape.