Safe, Inclusive and Empowering AI Framework for Children Urged at AI Impact Summit 2026

New Delhi: With digital penetration rapidly expanding across India, policymakers and global leaders on Monday called for a safe, inclusive and empowering Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework tailored specifically for children’s development.

Addressing the session ‘AI & Children: Turning Principles into Practice for Safe, Inclusive and Empowering AI’ at the AI Impact Summit 2026, organized by FICCI jointly with UNICEF, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, emphasized that children are increasingly exposed to AI-driven platforms.

“AI systems are shaping learning patterns, information access and behavioral responses. We still do not know the long-term effects of growing up with AI companions and algorithm-based feeds. More evidence and new tools are needed to understand its impact on a child’s overall development,” Prof. Sood said.

Calling AI a “double-edged sword,” he stressed that governance must maximize opportunities while minimizing risks. He cautioned that over-reliance on AI tools could weaken critical thinking and independent problem-solving skills. Highlighting policy measures, he pointed to the India AI Mission, the national AI governance framework and a recently released white paper on strengthening AI safety through a techno-legal approach.

Speaking at the summit themed ‘People, Planet and Progress,’ S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, said AI should not be viewed with fear but with understanding. “We need governance mechanisms that guard children and the nation from ill effects, while ensuring that young people benefit fully from AI’s potential to shape their futures,” he said.

Her Excellency May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, underlined Norway’s priority on child-centric AI, stating that technology must support not—undermine—children’s rights.

Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, noted that AI is increasingly integrated into education, healthcare and governance, with India’s EdTech sector leveraging adaptive learning tools to personalize education delivery.

Thomas Davin, Global Director at UNICEF’s Office of Innovation, described child-centered AI as a shared responsibility of governments and industry.

The session opened with UNICEF India Youth Advocate Prasiddhi Singh presenting a global statement reflecting insights from 54,000 children across 184 countries. Leaders concluded by urging governments to strengthen interdisciplinary watchdog bodies to monitor AI systems across public and private sectors, ensuring children’s rights remain foundational to AI governance.