India urges ethical standards as AI reshapes media

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has emphasized the critical need for ethical considerations in artificial intelligence development, particularly as media technologies rapidly evolve. Speaking at the Global Media Dialogue during WAVES-2025, he highlighted how technology can democratize global discourse by amplifying diverse voices and traditions that have historically been marginalized by colonialism. This intersection of technological advancement and cultural representation points to emerging challenges around authenticity, intellectual property, and bias that must be addressed as AI systems become more prevalent in global media.

The big picture: India’s foreign policy leadership is positioning the country to balance technological advancement with ethical considerations as artificial intelligence transforms global media.

• Dr. Jaishankar co-chaired the Global Media Dialogue alongside Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State L Murugan, calling for reduced bias, democratized content, and ethical practices in emerging technologies.
• The minister emphasized technology’s role in giving voice to traditions and heritage that have been historically suppressed by colonialism and power imbalances.

Key challenges ahead: Both public and private sectors face distinct hurdles as AI integration accelerates across media platforms.

• Political institutions must address questions of authenticity in an era of increasingly sophisticated AI-generated content.
• Businesses confront evolving intellectual property concerns while attempting to foster innovation and creativity.

Why this matters: The minister’s comments highlight how emerging technologies are reshaping global power dynamics beyond just economic impacts.

• Technology provides a pathway to democratize the international system by amplifying diverse cultural voices that have been historically marginalized.
• These digital tools are seen as critical to India’s development goals, with Jaishankar specifically connecting them to the country’s “Viksit Bharat by 2047” vision for national advancement.

Preparing the next generation: Youth development is central to India’s strategy for navigating the changing technological landscape.

• The government is prioritizing skills development to equip young talent for careers in creative communications, sports, and global collaborations.
• Jaishankar noted that in today’s information-saturated environment, the ability to capture attention has become a crucial skill.

The path forward: Responsible technology use will require balancing innovation with ethical guardrails.

• Reducing bias, democratizing content creation, and upholding ethical standards will be central to meaningful technological progress.
• The minister described innovation as “the key to leapfrogging” that will help advance India’s development objectives.