Recently, a conclave was held in India from February 16-21, 2026, on Artificial Intelligence (AI). It was a major global event featuring over 500+ global leaders, 100+ CEOs/founders, 150+ researchers, and 20+ Heads of State. President Macron of France was the star attraction besides Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The other key participants included OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Google’s Sundar Pichai, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, and Indian leaders like Mukesh Ambani. It concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, endorsed by 88 countries, focusing on responsible AI for economic growth and social good.
The thrust of ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’ was to bring out how AI was affecting human life. Its focus varied from indigenous AI solutions on human problems, such as health care, medicines, governance, and agriculture, to communications and technological research. In addition, it was also concerned about the ethical issues, such as the warning of Stephen Hawking, the biggest scientific mind of the last century after Einstein, who had said that unchecked scientific advancement would ensure by the end of this century, human beings would not exist in their present form.
The thrust of ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’ was to bring out how AI was affecting human life. Its focus varied from indigenous AI solutions on human problems, such as health care, medicines, governance, and agriculture, to communications, technological research and concern over ethical issues
No one knows how prophetic the words of Stephen Hawking are, but one thing is clear: AI would ensure a ‘clean break’ with past human history. It will really turn the world into a true ‘global village’. It will hasten the advent of the ‘cosmic era’, where mankind would venture into outer space as a ‘one big whole’. Therefore, religion and nationalism would be the first casualties of AI.
Nationalism is nothing but the geographical division of the earth, as is the division of humanity into religious, racial, ethnic, and casteist segments. AI is taking the globalisation concept to a next level of religion-less humanity.
Our society has come a long way from the ‘kissing taboo’ in public to the collapsing institution of marriage, where live-in relationships are getting popular. Valentine’s Day or Halloween Nights, unheard of a decade and a half back, are now household names. Holi and Diwali have lost their traditional charms
Also, the AI tsunami will wash away religious bigots. By the way, do we know who a religious bigot was? My answer is: anyone who has not read anything about the religion one practises but blindly believes what a Maulvi, Pundit, Granthi, Pastor, etc., tells him. Let me tell you there is no dearth of ‘blind persons’ — men and women, all put together, in this world. I am reminded of Helen Keeler who once said: The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. Watch the coming decade — 2026-2037 — the world will not be the same as we know it — Micro Economic Nodes, self- sustaining but also interdependent, would dot this earth.
How science and the process of globalisation have affected us can be gauged by the way Indian society has transformed — our society has come a long way from the ‘kissing taboo’ in public to the collapsing institution of marriage, where live-in relationships are getting popular. Valentine’s Day or Halloween Nights, unheard of a decade and a half back, are now household names. Holi and Diwali have lost their traditional charms.
So, let us not say that India won’t be affected. I am not saying that we would become atheists or have no belief in God. My views are only on the biggest farce of humanity — the concept of religion and nationalism, which segregate humanity. These ‘artificial divisions’ would be attacked by ‘Artificial Intelligence’ — after all, ‘diamond cuts diamond’!
A nation is a cultural togetherness of people, which includes similarities of history, traditions, habits, customs, and languages. A country might have several nationalities, and a civilisation might include a number of countries, e.g., Western civilisation, Indian civilisation, etc
However, we ought to understand the differences among civilisation, country, and the nation, along with the distinction between faith and religion. To me, civilisation is a cultural spread across geographical boundaries — it is not bounded by geography and religion. A country is a geographical identity with a mixture of separate communal, religious, ethnic, lingual, etc. identities. A nation is a cultural togetherness of people, which includes similarities of history, traditions, habits, customs, and languages. A country might have several nationalities, and a civilisation might include a number of countries, e.g., Western civilisation, Indian civilisation, etc.
Also, we must distinguish between religion and faith. Faith is a personal belief of someone, while religion is something thrust upon you because of your birth by someone, whether parents or social system, which keeps one imprisoned until he/she decides to create his/her own belief. We are all confused with the terms – religion, faith, and God.
Religion is community-driven; faith is individual-driven. Religion is imposed at birth; faith is a matter of choice — self-chosen. The ultimate aim of both faith and religion is to have a tryst with God — the difference is the path/route chosen. Religious route is decided by others — Maulvis, Pundits, Granthis, Pastors, etc. Faith route is self-chosen — whether it is Prophet, Christ, Guru, or even Shiva and Vishnu.
AI will lead to ‘desensitisation’ of the society/community/polity. It leaves no place for emotional closeness. Religion is based on the ‘emotional unity’ of people on the superiority of their ‘God’ — if it goes, religion goes
While AI is not questioning God — it is expediting the age of individualisation — where individual interests reign supreme over community or collective group. It may be noted that the process of individualisation began with the start of the Information Age — the more aware and knowledgeable a person becomes; more concerned he/she is of personal interests.
AI will lead to ‘desensitisation’ of the society/community/polity. It leaves no place for emotional closeness. Religion is based on the ‘emotional unity’ of people on the superiority of their ‘God’ — if it goes, religion goes.
We all say that there is one God, but religion is a symphony of division of the only God. Each one tells its followers that their God is supreme. Once God was divided, humanity was divided. This sowed seeds of hatred and violence against non-believers. AI will make God private and desist its public display. It will blast the myth of a divided God.
-An ex-NDA and Wellington Staff College graduate, Col Rajinder Singh is a renowned author and security analyst. He has authored four books, two individually and two in collaboration. His best-selling books are Kashmir – A Different Perspective and The ULFA Insurgency. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
