During the second day of the India Today Conclave 2026, Meredith Whittaker, president of the Signal Foundation, elaborated on the topic of artificial intelligence and its implications for society. She began by addressing the crucial question of who will control AI, asserting that it must be understood as a tool or chatbot, deeply embedded within a technological ecosystem. Whittaker highlighted that this ecosystem comprises cloud infrastructures, APIs, data, and expansive digital platforms that wield significant influence over personal identities and freedoms.

Whittaker further emphasized that the capabilities of tech companies are evolving to the point where they can impact individual identities. The conversation expanded beyond mere data control, pointing towards broader issues of power and authority in the digital landscape. She remarked that the existence of agentic AI already integrates into our lives, with algorithms influencing real-world decisions, such as loan approvals in banking, highlighting the risks of such power being unevenly distributed.

Concluding her session, Whittaker made a case for Signal as a superior alternative to WhatsApp, indicating that the former provides stronger privacy protections. This discussion raised pressing considerations about digital rights, the ethical use of AI, and the necessary balance of power between individuals and technological entities, which are becoming increasingly intertwined in daily life.