AI Impact Summit 2026: Dr Ramtohul calls for integrated AI and human approaches for disaster resilience

The Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Dr Avinash Ramtohul, urged global leaders to recognise cyberspace as a critical frontline in disaster management, warning that digital threats can be as destructive as floods or cyclones.

He made these remarks, today, during his intervention at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, India, in the session on ‘AI for Resilience: Closing the Technology Adoption Gap in Disaster Risk Reduction.’

The Summit, running from 17 to 22 February, brings together global leaders and experts to discuss how AI can be developed and governed responsibly, promote inclusive innovation, and address societal challenges.

In his address, Dr Ramtohul emphasised that the scope of disasters has expanded beyond natural hazards such as floods and cyclones to include cyber threats, ransomware attacks, and failures of critical digital infrastructure. He explained that disruptions in digital systems can impair emergency services, utilities and public safety, producing consequences as severe as those caused by physical disasters. He therefore called for disaster management strategies that integrate both physical and digital risks to ensure comprehensive resilience for countries and communities.

Minister Ramtohul further highlighted the role of digital twins in bridging the physical and virtual worlds. These detailed virtual models of infrastructure, buildings, and public spaces can provide emergency responders with real-time access to structural layouts, utility networks and the location of people, enabling faster and more precise interventions during emergencies. He added that technologies such as thermal imaging and occupancy sensors could further enhance situational awareness and help save lives during fires, floods, or other crises.

Dr Ramtohul also cautioned against overreliance on fully automated AI systems in life-critical operations. While AI can support early warning and decision-making, he stressed that human oversight is essential to prevent errors, cyber manipulations, or false alerts that could disrupt emergency response or undermine public confidence. Retaining human control in sensitive situations, he added, ensures accountability, reliability, and safety in AI-enabled disaster management.

Referring to Mauritius’ vulnerability as a Small Island Developing State to flash floods and extreme weather events, the Minister noted that the country is deploying early warning mechanisms, including cell broadcast systems. He emphasised that critical emergency decisions must

remain human-verified, highlighting the importance of keeping humans central in AI-driven governance and decision-making.

20 February 2026

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Topics: Technology