When Prime Minister Modi said in Paris, “We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity… no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans. That sense of responsibility must guide us, “ he wasn’t just talking about machines or code. He was inviting the world to think more deeply, more collectively, about how we choose to shape the future. That future is arriving fast. And in 2026, the conversation shifts meaningfully to the Global South. The India-AI Impact Summit will be more than another global gathering. It will be a moment of truth, a chance to stop talking about AI and start building the global trust, understanding, and participation that AI now demands.
AI today is just as much about perception as it is about performance. The technology is racing ahead, but public understanding is lagging. There’s the real risk: that people simply tune out. That we build systems for billions that billions can’t relate to or trust. This is where communication becomes mission-critical. Because without trust, there is no adoption. Without understanding, there is no inclusion. And without participation, there is no real transformation. What we say about AI, and how we say it, matters. Communication has to do three things now, and do them well. It has to explain, reassure, and invite. Explain AI not in technical slides, but in human stories — like the farmer in a village who uses an AI-powered app to detect early signs of crop disease. Or the teacher in a small-town school who’s finally able to make learning more accessible for their visually impaired students.
Then it must build trust, by showing people that AI isn’t an invisible power out of their control, but something designed with ethics, safety, and transparency at its heart. And finally, it has to open the doors to young creators, students, local leaders, and dreamers, to show them that AI is not just being made for them, but with them.
And here’s the good news: India knows how to do this. We’ve seen how intentional communication can create mass movements — from Swachh Bharat to Digital India to CoWIN. When people feel seen and informed, when the message speaks their language, things shift. Trust builds. Participation grows. Momentum follows.
The AI Jan Bhagidari we dream of isn’t some abstract ideal. It can be real if we start now, and start where people already are — in schools, colleges, creator circles, WhatsApp groups, community radios, and local newspapers. everyday.
The Summit itself is built on three beautiful, simple ideas: People, Planet, Progress. These aren’t just themes; they’re values. And around them are seven Chakras, deeply Indian in spirit, that channel where our focus must go — skilling, inclusion, safety, sustainability, scientific innovation, access, and social good. But the truth is, if these words only stay within policy papers and conference speeches, their power is lost. Communication can give them life. The People Sutra becomes real when we share stories of rural students learning AI in their mother tongue. The Planet Sutra connects when we show how AI is being used to fight drought or build solar-powered cooling systems. And Progress shines through when we highlight women coders from tier-2 cities creating solutions for their own communities. These stories must be everywhere. India, more than any other country right now, stands at the crossroads of scale and soul. Our digital backbone — from Aadhaar to UPI to ONDC — has shown the world what tech can do when it’s people-first.
Our diversity, multilingualism, and frugal innovation mindset uniquely prepare us to build AI not just for India, but for every society that wants to grow without leaving anyone behind. But for that, we need to speak clearly. Confidently. Accessibly. From policy to pop culture. From DPI to drawing rooms. We need to build a communication ecosystem that makes AI feel closer, kinder, and more comprehensible. This means a few tangible things. We need AI fundamentals in schoolbooks, yes, but also in comic books and regional news.
It’s time to treat communication not as an afterthought, but as infrastructure — just as vital as compute, data, or regulation. Let’s build a National AI Literacy Mission. Let’s fund creators who want to tell stories of AI for good. Let’s take AI to campuses, to panchayats, to festivals. Let’s map this conversation to the rhythm of how people already learn, share, and hope. Because here’s the truth: AI won’t be accepted because of algorithms.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is a stage. But the real story will unfold in the minds and hearts of people. That’s the story India must tell — and tell powerfully. If we do, then India won’t just be a participant in the global AI discourse. We’ll be its conscience. It's a communicator. It's North Star. At this dawn of the AI age, communication is our quiet superpower. Let’s use it with intention. Let’s use it to bring the world closer to AI — and bring AI closer to the world.
The writer is a former Civil Servant, writes on strategic communication. Inputs provided by Zoya Ahmad and Vaishnavie Srinivasan
