‘Think of India as a civilization, not a country’: Isha founder Sadhguru at IIT2026 conference in US

New Delhi: Addressing the IIT2026 global conference in California, Isha founder Sadhguru said India “should not be considered as a country but as a civilization” and highlighted what he said was India’s long tradition of combining spiritual inquiry with intellectual and scientific pursuits.He addressed more than 2,500 attendees, including entrepreneurs and technology experts, about the pace of global change and the growing role of artificial intelligence. He noted that technological advancements can compress generational transitions into shorter periods of time, placing greater emphasis on human clarity and stability.Sadhguru also said that while machines may increasingly handle data and memory, human capabilities should expand beyond information processing. He called human systems “complex technologies” and emphasized the need for a better understanding of human potential in the context of rapid technological change.The IIT2026 Global Conference was held at the Long Beach Convention Center from April 22 to 25 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the IIT system and discuss artificial intelligence, innovation, sustainable development and global cooperation.