TRAI Chairman Urges Responsible AI Adoption in Telecom Sector

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti advocated for a risk-based approach to artificial intelligence in the telecom sector during several events in New Delhi on September 14, including CO.AI 2026 and a Cellular Operators Association of India program. Lahoti described AI not as a simple application layer, but as a capability that fundamentally influences network management, service design, and decision-making.

Lahoti emphasized that while AI can drive network autonomy and improve the detection of anomalies to combat scams, it can also be misused to make fraudulent activities more sophisticated. He urged telecom operators and technology companies to maintain human oversight for high-impact systems to prevent single points of failure and ensure that automation does not obscure accountability. He specifically called for coordinated responses between operators, financial institutions, and law enforcement to address cross-ecosystem fraud.

Regarding governance, Lahoti stated that consumer protection must remain the central pivot of service delivery. He advocated for technology-neutral regulations focused on outcomes rather than prescriptive rules to avoid stifling innovation. Additionally, he noted that TRAI is currently awaiting a government decision regarding recommendations for the use of satellite communication in remote areas.