AI brings benefits but also risks; regulation has a role: IT Minister Vaishnaw

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 18, 2026: The government is working with the industry to develop an appropriate regulatory approach for artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on ensuring safety and protecting citizens online, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of SEMICON India 2026, Vaishnaw said every new technology brings significant benefits but also comes with certain risks, making regulation an important part of ensuring user safety.

“Whenever a new technology comes, that new technology brings many positives, but it also carries several risks. That is why regulation always plays a role in every new technology. And that regulation is primarily about user safety,” he said.

Vaishnaw said ensuring user safety in the case of AI is particularly challenging because of the technology’s complexity.

“In the case of AI, that user-safety dimension is very big. Unlike physical technologies, where the idea of how to ensure safety is comparatively easier, imagining how to keep AI safe is much more complex,” he said.

The minister said the government was working with industry stakeholders to determine an appropriate regulatory framework, ensure AI safety and protect citizens in the online environment.

His remarks come amid growing global discussions on how to maximise the economic and social benefits of AI while addressing risks such as deepfakes, misinformation, fraud, privacy breaches, bias and potential misuse of increasingly powerful AI systems.

Governments, technology companies, researchers and scientists around the world are working on safety and regulatory frameworks aimed at protecting users while allowing continued technological innovation.