AI Is a Double-Edged Sword: Ajay Kumar Sood Calls for Stronger Governance to Protect Children

AI Impact Summit Highlights Risks and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence for Young Users​

New Delhi, February 16: Artificial Intelligence is a double-edged sword and governance must focus on maximizing opportunities while minimizing risks, the government’s top science advisor said on Monday, underlining growing concerns about AI’s expanding footprint in children’s lives.

Addressing a session titled ‘AI and Children: Turning Principles into Practice for Safe, Inclusive, and Empowering AI’ at the ongoing AI Impact Summit in the national capital, Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood stressed that digital penetration has increased significantly, exposing children to AI-driven platforms at an early age.

Growing Exposure to AI Tools Raises Long-Term Concerns​

Sood said that children today are growing up with AI companions, personalized learning applications, algorithm-driven content feeds, and synthetic media. However, he cautioned that society does not yet fully understand the long-term implications of such exposure.

He noted that more evidence is required to assess how these tools affect children’s development, mental health, and educational outcomes over time.

AI is now deeply embedded in daily life through learning tools, content platforms, and various digital models, he said. This growing presence creates a governance responsibility to ensure that children benefit from AI’s potential for learning and inclusion while being shielded from harms that can rapidly scale in the digital environment.

Balancing Innovation with Safeguards​

While highlighting the positive potential of artificial intelligence, Sood said AI can enable personalized pedagogy, allowing children to learn at their own pace and receive timely feedback beyond classroom hours. Such tools can expand access to learning resources and enhance educational outcomes when used responsibly.

At the same time, he warned against over-reliance on AI systems. Excessive dependence on these tools could weaken critical thinking, independent problem-solving abilities, and foundational learning skills.

Call for Child-Specific AI Governance Framework​

Sood emphasized that embedding child-specific safeguards and guardrails into AI governance frameworks is essential and non-negotiable.

“The future generation should not be a victim of today’s technology,” he said, reiterating that regulatory frameworks must evolve to protect young users while harnessing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.

The remarks place child safety and inclusive AI governance at the center of policy discussions as India positions itself at the forefront of global conversations on responsible AI development.