Meet MANAV vision: AI-powered sign language demo translates PM Modi’s speech
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi was made accessible in real time through AI-enabled sign language interpretation and multilingual translation, showcasing technology’s inclusive potential.
During his speech at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan, a large screen displayed live AI-driven sign language interpretation of PM Modi’s address. The speech was also dubbed in 11 Indian languages—Assamese, Bangla, English, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu—using AI, making the summit accessible to a wider audience.
MANAV vision for AI
PM Modi unveiled the human-centric ‘MANAV’ vision for artificial intelligence:
- M – Moral and ethical systems
- A – Accountable governance
- N – National sovereignty
- A – Accessible and inclusive
- V – Valid and legitimate
He emphasised that AI development should focus on welfare and happiness for all while keeping humans in control of commands.
AI as a transformative force
The Prime Minister highlighted AI’s unprecedented speed and scale, noting: "AI is making machines intelligent, but more than that, it is increasing human capabilities manyfold. Earlier, the impact of technology took decades to appear. Today, the journey from machine learning to learning machines is faster, deeper and wider than ever."
Drawing parallels with the wireless revolution, he said: "Artificial Intelligence is such a transformation of human history. What we are seeing today, what we are predicting, is just the beginning of its impact."
Global presence and engagement
The summit was attended by global leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, alongside key figures from technology and industry sectors. Videos of the multilingual and sign language feeds were widely shared on social media, reinforcing India’s commitment to inclusive and accessible AI.