CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research organised an international symposium on human-centred artificial intelligence and sustainable development as an official pre-summit event of the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 at its Pusa campus in New Delhi. The meeting brought together experts from India and abroad to deliberate people-centric AI approaches for securing inclusive and sustainable energy futures. Organisers said the aim was to generate actionable ideas to shape safe and trusted AI frameworks that support energy security.

The inaugural session featured a welcome by Dr Geetha Vani Rayasam, Director of CSIR-NIScPR, who outlined the need for safe and trusted AI and linked the symposium to national pre-summit consultations. The former INSA president and a senior professor from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur observed that AI presents both opportunities and challenges and urged informed societal debate to ensure AI acts as an enabler. A visiting Russian scholar highlighted cultural perspectives and social dimensions of energy transitions.

The keynote session on AI-driven pathways to energy security examined ethical and systems-level challenges and collaborative opportunities, with interventions from academics and researchers. Afternoon technical sessions emphasised interdisciplinary research, reliable data ecosystems and policy-aligned innovation so that AI contributes meaningfully to sustainable development. Presenters addressed governance applications, international collaboration and legal frameworks relevant to AI.

A second technical session explored ethical dilemmas, energy transition risks and the dual impact of AI on demand, infrastructure and policy readiness while highlighting next-generation research paradigms and data-driven innovation. A high-level panel considered policy, institutional readiness and international cooperation needed to harness AI for secure energy systems and concluded that responsible deployment and aligned policies will be pivotal. The valedictory session summarised key insights and recommendations and the Director reaffirmed the institute's commitment to advancing human-centred AI and science-informed policy for energy security.