G20 Summit 2025: Leaders Call for Global Compact on AI and Human-Centric Innovation
November 23, 2025 | G20 Johannesburg | Technology & Humanity
By Editorial Desk
Global Governance & Technology Analyst
Focus: AI policy, human rights, G20 events
G20 Johannesburg: World leaders call for safe, transparent and human-centric AI to address global challenges.
At the G20 Summit 2025 in Johannesburg, global leaders emphasized the urgent need for a "global compact on AI," ensuring that artificial intelligence advances remain human-centric, transparent, and inclusive. PM Modi stressed that AI must never undermine humanity or be misused for crime, terrorism or deepfakes, and called for international cooperation to embed safety-by-design and human oversight as core principles[web:46][web:53][web:56][web:59].
The summit's third session, themed “A Fair and Just Future for All,” promoted technology that serves global good, not just finance. India announced it will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026—inviting all G20 members to help shape responsible AI standards. The G20 communique also reaffirmed key values: algorithmic transparency, explainability, privacy, and human rights in AI systems[web:64][web:63].
The summit's third session, themed “A Fair and Just Future for All,” promoted technology that serves global good, not just finance. India announced it will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026—inviting all G20 members to help shape responsible AI standards. The G20 communique also reaffirmed key values: algorithmic transparency, explainability, privacy, and human rights in AI systems[web:64][web:63].
Summit Highlights: AI & Humanity
- Human-centric innovation: G20 advocates for tech that augments, not replaces, human capabilities.
- Safety & transparency: Strict safeguards against misuse in areas like terrorism, crime, deepfakes.
- Global compact on AI: Unified principles for cross-border cooperation, responsible deployment, and oversight.
- Equitable access: India-AI Mission aims to bring high-performance computing and AI benefits to every district and language[web:46][web:62].
- International standards: Alignment with human rights, privacy, and fairness in algorithmic systems.
- Open-source models: India champions accessible, non-exclusive AI technologies to benefit all.
- AI Impact Summit 2026: India to host, focus on "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (Welfare and happiness for all)[web:53][web:56].
Current Global AI Principles
- ✓ Algorithmic transparency, explainability, and auditability remain central to trust in AI[web:58][web:64].
- ✓ G20 supports measures for human oversight and accountability in high-impact systems.
- ✓ Commitment to privacy and data protection alongside AI deployment.
- ✓ Red-line deployment bans for mass surveillance, predictive policing, and biometric social scoring[web:55].
- ✓ Focus on talent mobility, skills development and global frameworks for innovation[web:53][web:50].
Why the G20 Focus on Humanity in AI?
- AI’s rapid expansion impacts jobs, security, and social trust worldwide.
- Without global standards, risks include bias, exclusion, misuse, and erosion of rights.
- Human-centric approaches provide frameworks for safety, fairness and equitable global progress.
For Competitive Exams
- Key Terms: Global AI Compact, Safety-by-Design, Algorithmic Transparency, Human Oversight, AI Impact Summit, Open-Source Models
- PYQ Examples:
- UPSC Prelims 2024: Which country proposed a global compact on Artificial Intelligence in the G20? [India, 2 marks]
- SSC CGL 2024: What is the main principle behind safety-by-design in AI? [1 mark]
- Banking Awareness 2025: AI in digital payments and India's leadership. [1 mark]
- UPSC Mains 2023: Explain "human-centric technology" in the context of global governance. [10 marks]
- State PSC (2024): Recent G20 summits focus on AI - major outcomes. [2 marks]
- Exam tips: Focus on India’s AI policy, international cooperation, and new concepts like open-source, explainability, global compact.
— End of Report —
Sources:
- Indian Express, PIB, Reuters, Hindustan Times, DD News, SAI, EU Official Statement, November 2025
- G20 Leaders' Declaration, Government Press Releases
