On the opening day of India’s AI Impact Summit, Mr Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), joined Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Information & Broadcasting (MIB), Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and Railways, Government of India, for a fireside conversation on the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the creative economy. They were speaking at ‘Rewarding Our Creative Future in the Age of AI – Strengthening India Through Innovation, Trust and Talent’, organised by FICCI, jointly with MPA, MIB, and Creative First.
During the fireside chat between Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw and Mr Charles Rivkin, both leaders acknowledged that AI represents a new and exciting frontier for the global creative industries, sectors with a long and proven history of embracing transformative technologies in pursuit of creative excellence.
Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Information & Broadcasting (MIB), Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and Railways, GoI said, “India’s creator economy stands at a transformative moment. As we embrace Artificial Intelligence with openness and confidence, we must equally reaffirm our deep respect for intellectual property and the rights of our creators. The intersection of AI and copyright presents complex challenges, but it also offers historic opportunities. Through the India AI Impact Summit 2026, we are working to build a broad national consensus that safeguards creators, protects their original work, and enables innovation to flourish responsibly. When creators are empowered to deploy their skills while securing their copyrights and preserving the roots of their creative energy, AI becomes not a disruption, but a powerful tool for growth, driving India’s creative economy toward a stronger and more inclusive future.”
“AI can and must be used to expand creativity in a responsible way. Our member studios are at the forefront of this transformation, recognising the immense potential of AI to enhance storytelling while keeping human creativity at the heart of filmmaking. Strong copyright frameworks are indispensable; they anchor a vibrant creative economy, drive investment in the media and entertainment sector, and turn creative ingenuity and storytelling into world-class cultural exports,” said Mr Charles Rivkin.
Mr Rajiv Aggarwal, Chair, FICCI IPR Committee, in his opening remarks said, “As AI unlocks new opportunities across film, media, music, gaming, and digital content, it is equally important that innovation is anchored in a balanced and forward-looking IP ecosystem that ensures India continues to lead, both as a cultural and an economic powerhouse in the age of AI.”
The AI & Creative Economy track directly supports several of the key pillars underpinning the AI Impact Summit, especially around human capital, trusted AI, and AI for economic and social good. The programme builds on the momentum of last year’s WAVES Summit and serves as a bridge to next year’s gathering, reinforcing India’s leadership at the convergence of creativity, technology, and culture, and recognising MPA member studios’ continued contribution to the growth of the screen industry.
Mr Prabhat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, GoI, said in his valedictory remarks, “Our AI for All vision is guided by the principle that technology must ultimately serve people. AI should expand opportunities for creators across regions and languages, while remaining firmly aligned with ethical and constitutional values”.
The AI Impact Summit, convened at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is positioned as the first major global AI gathering in the Southern Hemisphere. It has drawn heads of state from 20 nations, ministerial delegations from 45 countries, and CEOs from the world’s leading technology companies.
