AI will create jobs, not kill them: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the emergence of AI has caused worry among professionals but emphasised that digital transformation will also lead to the rise of new tech jobs to boost the Indian economy.
The PM was addressing the biggest fear among India’s youth: whether AI will take away jobs. He spoke on the issue in an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, amid the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi, stressing that “preparation is the best antidote to fear”. PM Modi stressed the Central Government’s focus on skilling and re-skilling of the workforce to ensure they are ready for the AI-driven future. “The Government has launched one of the most ambitious skilling initiatives in the world.
We are not approaching this as a future problem, but we’re treating it as a present imperative. I view AI as a force-multiplier which will further help us push the boundaries of what we thought possible.”
He further said that history has shown that technological advent does not take away but create new jobs. “History has shown that work does not disappear due to technology. Its nature changes and new types of jobs are created. While some jobs may be redefined, digital transformation will also add new tech jobs to India’s economy. For centuries, there have been fears that innovation and technological revolutions will eliminate jobs. Yet history teaches us that whenever innovation happens, new opportunities emerge. The same will be true in the age of AI,” he said.The PM also stressed that India must not only consume technology but also create it.
“My vision for AI in Aatmanirbhar Bharat rests on three pillars: sovereignty, inclusivity, and innovation. My vision is that India should be among the top three AI superpowers globally, not just in the consumption of AI but in creation,” he said.
He further said that going ahead, AI models will be experienced by every Indian as an “enabler of opportunity, a multiplier of capability, and a servant of human dignity, not as a threat to their livelihood or an instrument of control.” PM Modi acknowledged that AI is both an opportunity and a challenge for the IT sector - which has been a key driver of economic growth in India. He, however, said the fundamental shift is not automation replacing the sector but rather transforming it.
“AI presents both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge for this sector. AI market projections show India’s IT sector could reach $400 billion by 2030, driven by new waves of AI-enabled outsourcing and domain-specific automation... While general-purpose AI tools have become widespread, enterprise-grade AI adoption is still concentrated in specific sectors, and incumbent IT firms continue to play crucial roles in solving complex business problems,” he said during the interview.
The PM further said that the Government’s vision is for the IT sector to not only lead in service delivery but also in building AI platforms, products, and solutions that work for India and the world.
Giving examples of the AI use for deepfakes, digital crimes and terrorist activities, the PM highlighted the requirement for certain fundamental principles.
“The emerging risk assessment framework considers national security concerns as well as harms to vulnerable groups, including deepfakes targeting women, child safety risks, and threats affecting the elderly. The urgency of these safeguards is becoming evident to everyone due to the surge in deepfake videos,” he added.
He mentioned the recently amended Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, which mandate social media platforms to remove objectionable content within three hours and make the marking of AI-generated content compulsory.
