Govt looking to build consensus on the challenges between AI and copyright: Ashwini Vaishnaw

India is seeking to build a broad national consensus on the complex challenges emerging at the intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on the opening day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

Vaishnaw was speaking at a fireside conversation with Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association, during a session titled Rewarding Our Creative Future in the Age of AI – Strengthening India Through Innovation, Trust and Talent. The session was organised by FICCI, jointly with MPA, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Creative First.

Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government recognises both the opportunities and the tensions arising from rapid advances in AI.


“India’s creator economy stands at a transformative moment. As we embrace Artificial Intelligence with openness and confidence, we must equally reaffirm our deep respect for intellectual property and the rights of our creators. The intersection of AI and copyright presents complex challenges, but it also offers historic opportunities. Through the India AI Impact Summit 2026, we are working to build a broad national consensus that safeguards creators, protects their original work, and enables innovation to flourish responsibly," he said.

"When creators are empowered to deploy their skills while securing their copyrights and preserving the roots of their creative energy, AI becomes not a disruption, but a powerful tool for growth, driving India’s creative economy toward a stronger and more inclusive future," he added further.

The minister, who holds the portfolios of Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and IT, and Railways, underlined that AI must be adopted in a way that strengthens India’s creative industries rather than destabilising them.

Joining him on stage, Charles Rivkin said the global film and media industry sees AI as a powerful enabler, provided copyright protections remain robust.

“AI can and must be used to expand creativity in a responsible way. Our member studios are at the forefront of this transformation, recognising the immense potential of AI to enhance storytelling while keeping human creativity at the heart of filmmaking. Strong copyright frameworks are indispensable; they anchor a vibrant creative economy, drive investment in the media and entertainment sector, and turn creative ingenuity and storytelling into world-class cultural exports,” said Rivkin.

Both leaders acknowledged that AI represents a new and exciting frontier for the global creative industries, sectors that have historically embraced transformative technologies in pursuit of creative excellence.

In his opening remarks, Rajiv Aggarwal, Chair of the FICCI IPR Committee, stressed that the policy framework around intellectual property must evolve alongside technological change.

“As AI unlocks new opportunities across film, media, music, gaming, and digital content, it is equally important that innovation is anchored in a balanced and forward-looking IP ecosystem that ensures India continues to lead, both as a cultural and an economic powerhouse in the age of AI,” he said.

The AI and Creative Economy track is aligned with key pillars of the AI Impact Summit, including human capital, trusted AI, and AI for economic and social good. The programme builds on the momentum of last year’s WAVES Summit and is positioned as a bridge to next year’s gathering, reinforcing India’s ambitions at the convergence of creativity, technology, and culture.

In his valedictory remarks, Prabhat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said the government’s broader approach to AI remains people-centric.

“Our AI for All vision is guided by the principle that technology must ultimately serve people. AI should expand opportunities for creators across regions and languages, while remaining firmly aligned with ethical and constitutional values,” he said.

The AI Impact Summit, convened at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being positioned as the first major global AI gathering in the Southern Hemisphere. According to organisers, it has drawn heads of state from 20 nations, ministerial delegations from 45 countries, and CEOs from leading global technology companies, signalling India’s intent to play a central role in shaping the global AI discourse.