New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India must emerge as one of the world's top three Artificial Intelligence (AI) powers, stressing that the country should lead not just in AI consumption but also in AI creation.

In an interview with Asian News International (ANI), Modi said AI is at a decisive moment in history and will enhance human capabilities like never before. He noted that AI would play a transformative role in India's long-term development vision and create new economic opportunities while promoting inclusive growth across urban and rural regions.

Highlighting sectoral impact, he said AI is aiding early detection of diseases such as tuberculosis and diabetes in primary health centres and district hospitals. In education, it is supporting students in both rural and urban schools. In agriculture, AI integration under the Bharat Vistar initiative combines crop advisory, soil testing and weather data to help farmers make informed decisions.

Calling AI a “huge opportunity”, Modi said it can help digitise and interpret ancient texts, preserving India's civilisational heritage. He emphasised that while many nations are concerned about AI risks, India is using the technology to solve real-world problems and expand access to healthcare, education and economic opportunities.

Referring to India's digital public infrastructure, including Unique Identification Authority of India (Aadhaar) and National Payments Corporation of India (UPI), he said these platforms demonstrate the country's capacity to build scalable technology solutions for developing nations.

The Prime Minister said India's IT sector, projected to reach USD 400 billion by 2030, will be transformed — not replaced — by AI. He stressed that technology must be used responsibly and that human oversight in decision-making should remain paramount.

Modi outlined three guiding principles — sovereignty, innovation and inclusion — stating that India must become self-reliant in AI and secure a place among the world's top AI superpowers.