Nirmala Sitharaman Calls for Accountable AI Innovation

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called for a balanced approach to artificial intelligence, stressing that innovation must go hand in hand with accountability, safety and consumer trust.

The policy challenge is straightforward: Can we build systems that are fast yet accountable, autonomous yet reversible when mistakes occur and innovative without diluting consumer trust?

It is our responsibility to build the right guardrails so that greater speed also builds… pic.twitter.com/SPTTT0fVsc

— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) September 11, 2026

Speaking at #GFF2026 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, she highlighted the need to design systems that are fast and autonomous while remaining reversible when mistakes occur.

Sitharaman said stronger guardrails are essential to ensure that greater technological speed translates into greater trust. She emphasised that efficiency and safety should not be competing objectives, arguing that effective institutional design can make both mutually reinforcing. She also warned that innovation must not create new forms of systemic fragility.

The Finance Minister underlined that while AI can assist human judgment, responsibility must remain with people and institutions.

She added that decisions carrying greater consequences should face stronger requirements for review, explanation and appeal, reinforcing the importance of accountable AI governance.