Jan AI – People-Centred Artificial Intelligence Revolution

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is entering a new phase focused on human well-being. The upcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, February 2026, marks this shift. Instead of fearing AI dominance, the summit emphasises AI’s role in healing, inclusion, and upliftment. This new approach is called ‘Jan AI’—AI designed for people, by people, and with purpose.

Emergence of Jan AI

Jan AI means making AI participatory and purposeful. It aims to help people thrive rather than just survive. Real examples include AI tools aiding doctors in early disease detection and farmers predicting rainfall using satellite data. Digital tutors explain concepts in local languages. These applications show AI’s current impact beyond theory.

AI for Social and Environmental Good

AI now predicts cyclones, manages traffic to reduce pollution, and monitors deforestation in real time. It improves urban air quality and boosts agricultural productivity. More importantly, AI is democratising intelligence. It empowers people with disabilities and supports rural entrepreneurs to access credit. This empathetic design makes societies fairer and systems smarter.

Challenges of AI Inequality

AI development is concentrated in wealthy nations. Datasets often reflect privilege, causing failures in recognising languages like Hindi or Swahili. AI models optimised for temperate climates may not suit tropical farming. This reveals AI’s bias and limits. To fix this, the Global South must become co-creators, contributing local languages, cultures, and knowledge to AI design.

India’s Role in Inclusive AI Innovation

India’s diversity and digital expansion make it ideal for Jan AI innovation. The IndiaAI Mission strives to benefit all citizens, not just the connected few. Technology builds capacity but trust requires communication. Jan AI must transform complex AI concepts into everyday understanding through stories, vernacular media, and education.

Building a People’s Movement for AI

Jan AI is envisioned as a grassroots movement. It should be multilingual, culturally relevant, and widely accessible. Awareness campaigns, community radios, and local influencers can make AI relatable. Teaching AI ethics and skills in schools encourages informed participation. Citizens co-creating AI demand ethical data use and accountability.

Humanising AI Through Storytelling and Culture

Narratives about nurses, teachers, and farmers using AI humanise technology. Digital media and films can spark wider interest and trust. These stories show how inclusivity guides AI towards collective intelligence. The New Delhi Summit asks – how can we use AI for each other? Empathy and inclusivity promise a new chapter for humanity powered by AI.

Global Implications of Jan AI

India’s leadership in Jan AI offers a model for the Global South. By integrating dharma with data, this approach blends ethics with innovation. Jan AI can redefine global AI discourse, making intelligence truly universal and human-centred. This shift moves beyond technology to embrace social justice and shared progress.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Discuss in the light of recent developments how Artificial Intelligence can be used to promote inclusive growth in developing countries.
2. Critically examine the challenges and opportunities of integrating local languages and cultures into Artificial Intelligence systems.
3. Explain the role of community participation and ethical considerations in the governance of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
4. With suitable examples, discuss how India’s digital initiatives can contribute to global leadership in technology and innovation.

Answer Hints:

1. Discuss in the light of recent developments how Artificial Intelligence can be used to promote inclusive growth in developing countries.

1. AI aids early disease detection and healthcare delivery in remote areas, improving health outcomes.
2. Use of AI-powered apps helps farmers predict weather, optimize crops, and increase productivity.
3. AI tools enable rural entrepreneurs to access credit, encouraging financial inclusion.
4. Language-localized AI tutors support education in vernacular languages, enhancing learning access.
5. AI-driven environmental monitoring (e.g., deforestation, pollution) supports sustainable development.
6. Democratisation of AI makes intelligence accessible to marginalized groups, reducing inequality.

2. Critically examine the challenges and opportunities of integrating local languages and cultures into Artificial Intelligence systems.

1. Challenges include lack of quality datasets in many local languages and dialects.
2. AI models trained on privileged data often fail to understand or serve diverse linguistic contexts.
3. Integrating local cultures ensures AI relevance and usability in diverse socio-economic settings.
4. Opportunities lie in co-creation involving local communities, enriching AI with indigenous knowledge.
5. Improves AI fairness, reduces bias, and enhances global applicability beyond wealthy nations.
6. Requires sustained investment in data collection, linguistic research, and technology adaptation.

3. Explain the role of community participation and ethical considerations in the governance of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence.

1. Community participation ensures AI development aligns with local needs and values.
2. Inclusive dialogue builds trust and demystifies complex AI concepts for wider acceptance.
3. Ethical governance promotes accountability, transparency, and responsible data use.
4. Protects against misuse, bias, and privacy violations affecting vulnerable populations.
5. Enables co-creation, empowering citizens to influence AI applications and policies.
6. Supports sustainable, equitable technology deployment encouraging social justice.

4. With suitable examples, discuss how India’s digital initiatives can contribute to global leadership in technology and innovation.

1. IndiaAI Mission aims to make AI accessible and beneficial to all citizens, including rural and marginalized groups.
2. Digital India and Jan AI promote vernacular content, digital literacy, and grassroots innovation.
3. Examples – AI tools for healthcare, agriculture, financial inclusion, and education in multiple languages.
4. India’s demographic diversity and digital reach provide a testbed for inclusive, scalable AI solutions.
5. Leadership in ethical AI blending dharma (ethics) with data sets a global model for human-centred innovation.
6. Hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 positions India as a hub for global AI discourse and collaboration.