KTR calls for responsible innovation, ethical use of tech at Bengaluru summit

Bengaluru: “Growing up, we thought technology meant the future. Today, we’re talking about the future of technologies—this is evolution,” said KT Rama Rao, BRS working president and former minister.

KTR delivered a keynote address on Thursday at the Entrepreneur Tech and Innovation Summit 2025, emphasising the need for responsible innovation and ethical technology use. Addressing a diverse audience of tech leaders, innovators and policymakers in Bengaluru, KTR outlined a vision for India’s digital future while cautioning against the unintended consequences of unchecked technological growth.

Technology evolves but human needs stay

In his speech titled ‘Driving Digital India: Innovations and Strategies for a Technologically Advanced Future,’ KTR reflected on technology’s rapid evolution. He said Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Quantum Computing, Extended Reality (XR) and the Internet of Bodies (IoB) are game-changers for their potential to revolutionise industries and human life.

However, he maintained the importance of human intervention: “Radios faded, TVs rose, now it’s podcasts. Technology changes, but core human needs stay.”

Ethical frameworks must accompany progress

KTR stressed that innovation must prioritise societal good.

“The future isn’t something we enter—it’s something we create,” he asserted, advocating for technologies that uplift lives. He praised drones in agriculture but raised concerns over privacy breaches, warning, “Create great technology without educating society, and you risk chaos—like handing a nuclear weapon to a maniac.”

Addressing societal challenges

The BRS leader questioned why skilled youth are drawn to cybercrime and decried the rising toll of online gambling, calling it ‘unsettling.’

KTR urged robust regulations that protect without stifling digital freedom. He also highlighted the digital divide, citing a child missing online classes during Covid-19 as a poignant example, and pressed for inclusive solutions that reach all social strata.

Sustainability on the agenda

Environmental responsibility featured prominently in KTR’s address. “Data centres are mushrooming without assessing their power or water use,” he noted. With a humorous jab, he said, “Elon Musk might send a few to Mars, but the rest of us live here,” urging innovators to prioritise sustainability.

Bridging language divides

Touching on Karnataka’s language pride, KTR pivoted to a broader concern: “The new language barrier isn’t just linguistic—it’s the gap between the tech-savvy and those left behind.” He called for technologies that empower everyone, ensuring India’s digital revolution leaves no one out.

KTR wrapped up with a nod to the movie ‘The Terminator’: “What makes us human? It’s the strength of the human heart, not something you can program.” He urged innovators to create ‘with your hearts in the right place.’