The role of artificial intelligence in India’s creative industries has been examined at a pre-summit seminar held in New Delhi on January 13. The one-day event, titled Who Owns the Future of Entertainment?: India, AI, and the Next Global Shift, has been organised by the Motion Picture Association and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry at Federation House, ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The discussion has focused on how India can harness AI to strengthen its creative economy while protecting the rights, livelihoods and long-term value of creators. The seminar has drawn participation from across film, television, music, digital platforms and advisory services, reflecting the expanding footprint of AI across entertainment and media.
From a public policy perspective, the conversation has centred on balancing innovation with trust and sustainability. The opening session has addressed regulatory and policy questions raised by AI’s rapid adoption, including copyright, ownership, training data, attribution and remuneration. Legal experts, policymakers and industry representatives have examined how governance frameworks can evolve without undermining creator protections.
The importance of copyright-led growth has emerged as a recurring theme. The discussion has highlighted voluntary licensing models and enforceable rights as key mechanisms to support innovation while maintaining economic value for creators and rights holders.
The second session has shifted focus to real-world application, examining how AI has already been deployed across scripting, music, animation, visual effects and content distribution. Industry practitioners have explored how AI decisions affect creativity, economics, competitive advantage and governance, rather than viewing the technology as a single, uniform intervention.
The seminar has set the context for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to take place in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, where discussions will continue on how AI can drive inclusive growth, innovation and global influence for India’s creative economy.
Prabhat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said that from a public policy perspective, three objectives must be addressed together. AI, he emphasized, must be used to expand creativity, improve competitiveness, and preserve trust and rights, ensuring that innovation remains sustainable rather than fragile.
Blaise Fernandes, President & CEO of Indian Music Industry, an IFPI affiliate at The Indian Music Industry, said, “At WAVES 2025, our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, set the benchmark for India’s creative sector to power the Orange Economy to global heights. Any AI policy must ensure that the copyright sector is given the opportunity to unlock the value of copyright through voluntary licensing models. This is very important to reach global heights.”
James Cheatley, Vice President VOD, Digital Affairs & Intellectual Property at Motion Picture Association, emphasised what is at stake, saying, “AI is transforming every stage of the creative lifecycle. The policy decisions made now will shape how creators, companies, and markets evolve. India has a real opportunity to work in dialogue with industry to establish frameworks that support creativity, investment, and responsible technological growth.”
Mira Chatt, Regional Director (Asia), IFPI, said: “The creative industries have stepped up to shape future opportunities for music and AI by pursuing voluntary licensing opportunities. Governments should support this by enforcing, not undermining, existing copyright laws to ensure a level playing field for creators, right holders and AI companies. It’s a basic question of fairness. Right holders in India should be able to negotiate a license for the use of their music. This benefits the whole creative ecosystem and its future.”
Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Head – Enterprise Technology Group, Sony Pictures Networks India, said, “AI in media and entertainment is not a single debate, it is a strategic set of choices across capability, economics, creativity, competitive advantage and governance. The technology is ready, the talent is here, and the market is massive; what will separate leaders is whether AI becomes just a faster way to do the same work, another round of cost or labour arbitrage, or a way to create what we have never been able to create before. Get that balance right, AI for speed, humans for soul, and India will be globally competitive, not merely globally present.”
