Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday that artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally reshaped the job market and is defining the economic landscape of the present era. He asserted that technology must be used to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them.
As per an official press release, delivering the keynote address, “AI: Effects and Side-Effects,” at the Dr Suresh Awasthi Memorial Lecture Series in Varanasi — organised to mark scholar Dr Suresh Awasthi’s 20th death anniversary — the LG said science should be the means of progress while humanity must determine its direction.
“The invention of the wheel, the development of printing, the steam engine, the discovery of electricity, the spread of computers and the internet, each of these changed the world. Today we stand on the threshold of a similar new era, and AI has already reached our homes, schools, hospitals, industries, farms and government systems. It has become part of our lives. Even in far flung villages, AI is changing lives. A local health worker can now run medical checkups, farmers get instant weather and crop advice, and students get top-quality lessons in their own language,” the LG said.
He said that a mature society should use modern and new technology like AI with sensitivity and keeping future requirements in mind. He said “India has for centuries been the bearer of a shared heritage of knowledge, innovation and humanity and our country taught the world that science and ethics are not opposites but complements.”
“So when AI brings new opportunities before us, our duty is not only to adopt it but also to guide it in the right direction. I firmly believe that when technology is used for human welfare, it democratizes opportunity. It brings possibilities to people who were previously deprived of them. That is why we should welcome this change. The need today is not to compare humans and machines. Rather, we must ensure that machines extend human capabilities, not replace them.
“History reminds us that every great leap forward brings a moment of friction. Just as society evolved past the scriptorium after the printing press and abandoned the hand-plow for the tractor, we cannot turn back the clock on Artificial Intelligence. AI represents our best path forward, not as a replacement for human potential, but as a force multiplier. By absorbing the friction of routine and repetitive tasks, AI would elevate our uniquely human strengths. The future belongs to a symbiotic partnership where technology handles the mechanics, allowing the human work force to focus on what truly matters,” the LG said.
The LG stated that we must build a future where science becomes the means of progress and humanity determines its direction.
“Every technology revolution closes some doors but opens many new ones. The real challenge today is not about lack of opportunity but speed of change, making rapid reskilling our most urgent duty in various sectors. We should also be prepared to deal with challenges of AI-generated deepfakes which blurs the line between fact and fiction.
“Today, we also face an even deeper crisis that is the erosion of truth. For innovation to succeed, it must walk hand-in-hand with public trust. Citizens have a fundamental right to know where their information comes from. Today, in an AI dominated era, transparency is a necessity,” the LG said.
The LG also called upon the young generation to grab the opportunity today and focus on problem solving and critical thinking with scientific temper.
“Today vast trove of knowledge is available in the palm of your hand. This is an extraordinary opportunity, and the future belongs to those who know how to use it to find solutions and who can work collaboratively with diverse ideas, and who have the courage to make ethical decisions. In the times ahead we must cultivate environments in our schools and universities where Science and Sanskar develop in balance. Along with technical competence, creativity, communication, empathy and responsibility should be given equal importance. I believe ultimately the society that progresses most will be the one that makes its young people skilled, capable and sensitive. Therefore, balance must be our path,” the LG added.
He also cautioned against the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes and misinformation, saying transparency is essential in an AI-dominated era.
“Citizens have a fundamental right to know where their information comes from. For innovation to succeed, it must walk hand-in-hand with public trust,” he said. Calling upon young people to develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking and scientific temper, Sinha said schools and universities must create an environment where science and values grow together.
“Along with technical competence, creativity, communication, empathy and responsibility should be given equal importance. The society that progresses the most will be the one that makes its young people skilled, capable and sensitive,” he said.
Earlier, the LG paid tribute to Dr Suresh Awasthi, describing him as a distinguished scholar, visionary and an advocate of independent thinking whose ideals continue to inspire nation-building.
