ITU Secretary-General calls for inclusive AI development at India AI Impact Summit
Date: 2026-02-20
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen
Bogdan-Martin, has emphasized the need for equitable access to artificial
intelligence, warning that the technology’s long-term impact will be judged by
how broadly its benefits are shared.
Speaking
at the Leaders’ Plenary of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Bogdan-Martin
stated that AI’s transformative potential can only be fully realized if it
reaches people across all countries and local communities. She noted that the
trajectory of AI — whether it becomes a driver of opportunity or a source of
deeper inequality — will depend on deliberate global action.
Bogdan-Martin
outlined three key pillars required to ensure responsible and inclusive AI
development. She highlighted the importance of standards as a foundation for
building trustworthy and interoperable AI systems, stressing that common
frameworks are essential for fostering global confidence in emerging
technologies.
She
also underscored the role of skills, arguing that human capacity development
remains central to technological progress. According to the ITU chief,
investments in digital literacy and technical expertise will determine how
effectively societies can harness AI-driven innovation.
In
addition, Bogdan-Martin pointed to solutions as the ultimate measure of
success, calling for AI applications that deliver tangible benefits in sectors
such as education, science, and economic opportunity.
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Referencing
India’s approach to AI governance, including its people-centric policy
direction, Bogdan-Martin described the country’s vision as an example of
leadership aimed at aligning technological advancement with societal
priorities.
Her
remarks echoed broader themes of the summit, where policymakers, industry
leaders, and international organizations have repeatedly stressed the urgency
of preventing the digital divide from evolving into what participants described
as an “AI divide.”
