New Delhi: Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom) and Chairman, DCC, highlighted the good and bad sides of artificial intelligence at the inaugural of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) “AI for Good – Impact India” Conference 2025 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) in New Delhi.
“While the title of the summit is AI for Good, there is equally AI for Bad — and risks come along naturally, because AI is truly horizontal and sits atop all verticals. ….and we are able to see how artificial intelligence (AI) tools are leading to deep fakes, voice cloning, financial frauds, bypassing voice signatures, and even videos to establish false identities,” he said.
“Therefore, we have to be very vigilant about what the telecom network will look like with artificial intelligence. As we move from 5G to 6G, there is a tremendous role for AI to improve the intelligence in networks, make them self-healing, and move from generative AI to agentic AI…. to make customer service better,” he noted.
His remarks underscored the growing risks of artificial intelligence misuse, from deepfakes and voice cloning to financial fraud and identity theft, even as AI transforms communication networks and customer experiences.
Dr Mittal emphasised that as India transitions from 5G to 6G, AI will play a crucial role in making telecom networks more intelligent and self-healing. However, he urged vigilance and responsible deployment to ensure that AI-driven systems remain secure, ethical and inclusive.
He highlighted India’s commitment to a human-centric AI ecosystem under the $1.25 billion IndiaAI Mission, aligning with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build technology that fosters trust and inclusion.
The conference, inaugurated jointly by Dr Mittal and Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director, ITU TSB, brought together global policymakers, industry leaders and academia to discuss ethical AI governance, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, robotics for youth safety and AI’s role in disaster management.
Jamoussi commended India’s leadership in responsible AI adoption and its efforts toward digital inclusion and global collaboration. The event also unveiled the Innovation Factory initiative, a joint platform by DoT and ITU to showcase AI startups addressing real-world challenges.
Through such initiatives, India aims to balance AI’s transformative power with accountability, ensuring it remains a force for good in driving sustainable and equitable digital growth.
