Om Birla Urges Ethical AI Rooted in Spiritual Wisdom at Haridwar Conference

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla has called for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to remain firmly anchored in humanity, spirituality, and ethics, warning against its misuse as a tool of control over human beings. Delivering the inaugural address at the international conference “Faith and Future: Integrating AI with Spirituality” at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, Shri Birla stressed that AI must be guided by compassion, empathy, and human values to truly serve society.

The conference has been jointly organized by Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya and the Future of Life Institute (USA), bringing together global thought leaders, technologists, and spiritual scholars to deliberate on the intersection of technology and ethics.

AI Must Enrich, Not Replace Human Experience

Shri Birla underscored that the purpose of technology is to enrich and elevate the human experience, not to diminish or replace it. “AI has immense potential to solve critical challenges, but it must never become a force that controls humanity,” he said.

He cautioned that the rapid advance of AI technologies—from generative models to automation—comes with risks of misuse, surveillance, and ethical dilemmas. At the same time, he acknowledged that AI carries the seeds of innovative solutions that can improve lives in areas such as:

• Healthcare – expanding access to medical care and diagnostics.

• Education – enabling inclusive, adaptive learning.

• Agriculture – supporting farmers with climate and crop insights.

• Public welfare – streamlining governance and delivery of services.

Spiritual Wisdom as a Guiding Force

Drawing upon India’s civilizational heritage, Shri Birla called for embedding India’s timeless spiritual values of morality, truth, and compassion into AI systems. He emphasized that AI could also serve as a powerful medium for disseminating India’s ancient wisdom and knowledge traditions across the globe.

“India’s ideals of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) and Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah (may all be happy) should guide AI development,” he said. “Only when AI is inclusive and equitable can it build a just and compassionate future.”

Balancing Power with Responsibility

Shri Birla likened AI to a powerful force of nature—capable of immense good if tempered with patience, wisdom, and ethical responsibility. Without moral grounding, he warned, AI could deepen inequalities and create divisions.

He reiterated that empathy and compassion must drive technological innovation, ensuring that the benefits of AI reach the most vulnerable communities worldwide.

A Global Dialogue Between Faith and Technology

Expressing hope for the outcome of the conference, Shri Birla said it could mark the beginning of a meaningful global dialogue between spirituality and modern technological advancement. He urged participants to work toward an international framework of ethical AI, one that promotes inclusivity, safeguards human dignity, and reflects humanity’s shared values.

“Let us ensure that AI becomes a force for harmony and empowerment, not conflict or control,” he concluded.

Presence of Dignitaries

The event was attended by Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, along with academic leaders, international delegates, and spiritual scholars. Sessions will continue over two days, exploring themes such as AI governance, ethics, human-AI collaboration, and the role of spirituality in guiding the future of technology.