Johannesburg – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi told world leaders in Johannesburg that the G20 must steer the world toward a fair and inclusive technological future, calling for global cooperation on artificial intelligence and safeguards to prevent its misuse.
The remarks were delivered during the third session of the G20 Summit, hosted in South Africa, an event closely watched in Eswatini given the Kingdom’s growing interest in digital transformation and regional cooperation on emerging technologies.
Modi said the discussions centred on sectors shaping the next global economy, including critical minerals and artificial intelligence. He urged countries to shift from technology systems driven by financial interests to models that put people first and are open and accessible across borders.
He pointed to India’s own experience, where digital payments, space innovation and AI initiatives involve broad public participation. India’s AI Mission is guided by equitable access, large scale skills development and responsible deployment, with an aim to ensure that every district and language group benefits from the technology.
Modi raised concern about the rise of deepfakes, cybercrime and the potential abuse of advanced systems, urging G20 members to work towards a global compact that restricts harmful uses of AI.
He also linked the conversation to long term workforce planning, saying countries should start preparing for the skills of tomorrow rather than job structures of the past. Modi said India expects the G20 to craft a global framework for talent mobility in the years ahead, arguing this would stimulate innovation and open new opportunities for young people worldwide, including those in developing nations such as Eswatini.
India will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026 under the theme Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya, translated as welfare for all and happiness for all.
Modi said his engagements in Johannesburg strengthened India’s bilateral ties with several countries and expressed gratitude to South Africans, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government, for what he described as a well organised summit.
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