Legal Industry Set For AI Reset: PM Modi’s Human-Centric Vision At India AI Impact Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday delivered a keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, positioning artificial intelligence as a transformative force for human civilisation and outlining India’s vision of a human-centric and inclusive AI ecosystem. Beyond technology and innovation, his remarks also carry deep implications for the legal industry and justice delivery systems.

Calling the Summit a proud moment not only for India but for the Global South, the Prime Minister emphasised that India represents one-sixth of humanity and has the world’s largest youth population along with a rapidly expanding technology-enabled ecosystem. “India not only creates new technology but also adapts it with unprecedented speed,” he said.

Describing AI as a turning point in civilisation, PM Modi noted that every few centuries, humanity witnesses a phase that resets the direction of development. Artificial intelligence, he said, is one such moment. “The journey from machine learning to learning machine is fast, deep and comprehensive,” he observed, adding that AI can either disrupt or deliver solutions depending on the direction chosen.

The central message of his address was clear: AI must move from being machine-centric to human-centric. Referring to the theme “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya” (Welfare for All, Happiness of All), PM Modi stressed that humans must not be reduced to mere data points or raw material. AI, he said, must be democratised and made a tool for inclusion and empowerment.

For the legal industry, this principle of democratisation could prove transformative. A human-centric AI model aligns directly with constitutional values of access to justice, fairness and transparency. If AI tools are designed with inclusion at their core, they can help bridge the justice gap by improving legal research, case management, translation of court proceedings into regional languages, and accessibility tools for persons with disabilities.

The Prime Minister’s analogy of AI as a GPS, offering direction but leaving the final choice to humans, resonates strongly with the legal field. AI may assist judges, lawyers and regulators with predictive analytics or document review, but decision-making authority must remain human. This approach safeguards due process and judicial independence while leveraging efficiency.

PM Modi also described AI as a “Global Common Good,” arguing that knowledge and codes must be shared rather than confined as strategic assets. Addressing concerns over deepfakes and fabricated digital content, the Prime Minister proposed the idea of “authenticity labels” in the digital world, similar to nutrition labels on food products. For courts and law enforcement agencies, such mechanisms could become critical tools in combating misinformation, protecting evidentiary integrity and preserving trust in digital records.

He also emphasised child safety and family-guided AI ecosystems, areas that may soon demand stronger regulatory oversight, compliance norms and specialised cyber law frameworks. As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, lawmakers and courts will inevitably be called upon to interpret liability, accountability and ethical standards.

Referring to India’s Manav Vision (Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty, Accessible and Inclusive, Valid and Legitimate), PM Modi said it would serve as an important link for human development in the AI-driven 21st century. In the legal context, this vision could translate into AI systems designed not merely for efficiency but for fairness, ensuring that automation does not amplify bias, exclusion or surveillance risks.

The Prime Minister concluded by asserting that while some fear AI, India sees opportunity in it. For the legal industry, that opportunity lies in shaping regulatory architecture early, embedding constitutional morality into code, and ensuring that technological advancement strengthens rather than undermines the rule of law.

As India positions itself as a global AI hub, the legal fraternity may well find itself at the centre of this transformation: drafting policies, resolving disputes and redefining justice in an age where humans and intelligent systems co-create, co-work and co-evolve.

Event: India AI Impact Summit, 2026

Date: February 19, 2026