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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman calls for soft-touch regulation of AI, warns of risks from Agentic AI Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday urged Indian regulators to adopt a soft-touch approach to regulating artificial intelligence (AI), while warning of the growing risks posed by increasingly autonomous AI systems capable of influencing real-world outcomes. Speaking at the valedictory session of the Global Fintech Fest 2026, Sitharaman said recent reports from across the world have highlighted the ability of agentic AI systems to shape public opinion and potentially influence elections without the affected groups even being aware of it. The Minister referred to warnings from a researcher believed to be Jacob Coxon, who recently resigned from the AI company Anthropic, and raised concerns about self-improving AI systems and the long-term risks associated with superintelligence. I raise this not to cause alarm, but to emphasise institutional accountability towards the larger humanity. When an insider steps out on matters of safety and alignment, the public takes notice. Doubts voiced from within carry weight that external criticism never matches. Who from the global AI industry will stand up and reassure the public? Who will demonstrate that safeguards are actually keeping pace with the speed? Where is the structured collective effort to provide credible and transparent answers? she said. Global Safeguards Emphasising the need for stronger safeguards, Sitharaman noted that the cross-border nature of AI, fintech and digital platforms makes regulatory coordination increasingly important. She said differences in regulatory frameworks are playing a bigger role in determining whether companies can enter foreign markets and compete on equal terms. The differences increasingly determine whether a company can enter a foreign market, operate successfully and compete on equal terms with domestic firms, she said, adding that compliance with global regulations must become an integral part of Indian technology companies' growth strategies. To strengthen India's global technology footprint, the Finance Minister proposed a federated industry platform bringing together startups and established technology firms. Such a platform could engage with foreign governments and regulators, promote interoperability standards, share best practices on data governance and cybersecurity, and help Indian firms navigate diverse licensing regimes while commercialising their intellectual property globally. Sitharaman also urged global technology companies to be fair to the jurisdictions where they earn their profits. They need to treat those customers well, meet the tax obligations and give something back to the society that has made their success possible, she said. Calling for greater oversight of AI deployment, she said regulators, boards and senior management must pay closer attention to how AI is used, the decisions it influences, the data it relies on and the risks it creates. AI as a matter cannot be left entirely to the technology teams alone, she said. She also urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to accelerate work on the digital rupee, saying innovation in tokenisation, agentic AI and quantum computing must be balanced with trust, resilience and systemic stability. www.thehindubusinessline.com, dt. 12-09-2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman calls for soft-touch regulation of AI, warns of risks from Agentic AI

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday urged Indian regulators to adopt a soft-touch approach to regulating artificial intelligence (AI), while warning of the growing risks posed by increasingly autonomous AI systems capable of influencing real-world outcomes.

Speaking at the valedictory session of the Global Fintech Fest 2026, Sitharaman said recent reports from across the world have highlighted the ability of agentic AI systems to shape public opinion and potentially influence elections without the affected groups even being aware of it.

The Minister referred to warnings from a researcher believed to be Jacob Coxon, who recently resigned from the AI company Anthropic, and raised concerns about self-improving AI systems and the long-term risks associated with superintelligence.

I raise this not to cause alarm, but to emphasise institutional accountability towards the larger humanity. When an insider steps out on matters of safety and alignment, the public takes notice. Doubts voiced from within carry weight that external criticism never matches. Who from the global AI industry will stand up and reassure the public? Who will demonstrate that safeguards are actually keeping pace with the speed? Where is the structured collective effort to provide credible and transparent answers? she said.

Global Safeguards

Emphasising the need for stronger safeguards, Sitharaman noted that the cross-border nature of AI, fintech and digital platforms makes regulatory coordination increasingly important. She said differences in regulatory frameworks are playing a bigger role in determining whether companies can enter foreign markets and compete on equal terms.

The differences increasingly determine whether a company can enter a foreign market, operate successfully and compete on equal terms with domestic firms, she said, adding that compliance with global regulations must become an integral part of Indian technology companies' growth strategies.

To strengthen India's global technology footprint, the Finance Minister proposed a federated industry platform bringing together startups and established technology firms. Such a platform could engage with foreign governments and regulators, promote interoperability standards, share best practices on data governance and cybersecurity, and help Indian firms navigate diverse licensing regimes while commercialising their intellectual property globally.

Sitharaman also urged global technology companies to be fair to the jurisdictions where they earn their profits.

They need to treat those customers well, meet the tax obligations and give something back to the society that has made their success possible, she said.

Calling for greater oversight of AI deployment, she said regulators, boards and senior management must pay closer attention to how AI is used, the decisions it influences, the data it relies on and the risks it creates.

AI as a matter cannot be left entirely to the technology teams alone, she said.

She also urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to accelerate work on the digital rupee, saying innovation in tokenisation, agentic AI and quantum computing must be balanced with trust, resilience and systemic stability.

www.thehindubusinessline.com, dt. 12-09-2026