In the recent general elections we saw how big a threat disinformation, misinformation and fake news can be. That threat gets multiplied many fold by the power of AI. This experience is not limited to only India, but globally every society, every government is facing the exact same threat by the emergence of new risks based on AI. The societies are responding in methodical and thought through ways“, said Union Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Highlighting the pervasive threat posed by elements such as disinformation, misinformation, and fake news, Mr. Vaishnaw referred to the Hiroshima AI Process which was launched by the G7 under Japan’s presidency in May 2023, with the aim of promoting safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. Amid the growing global debate over advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems such as generative AI, the Hiroshima AI Process is the world’s first international effort toward that end. The focus in the G7 summit was to create legally binding frameworks which are applicable across the world. Similar steps have been taken where Europe has passed EU-AI act in March 2024, where the focus is on defining the risks, placing these risks in buckets such as; more harmful, less harmful and then working towards containing it.
Speaking at the Global India AI summit in New Delhi, he underscored that this challenge is not unique to any one nation but is a global concern affecting societies and governments worldwide. The summit was the maiden edition by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India continuing its commitment to advancing the responsible development, deployment, and adoption of AI.
Inclusive approach to foster AI’s potential
Highlighting agencies such as the United Nations which have set up a high-level advisory body on Artificial Intelligence to foster a globally inclusive approach, undertaking analysis and advance recommendations for the international governance of AI, he said,
“The global south is today looking for a universal support and a common thought process, principles for the world to respond to the potentials in one hand, and the challenges on the other hand. India has realised that for economic and social challenges we face, AI can be a very big tool to solve many problems. Simultaneously, we must contain the risks that AI brings. We also believe that the solution must be brought through a global thought process, it cannot be done in isolation by one country”, he quipped while addressing participants from 50 countries.”
Ashwini Vaishnaw with Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan Mr. Hiroshi Yoshida, OpenAI VP Srinivas Narayanan and others
Under this initiative, the high-level advisory has called for 32 interdisciplinary experts in relevant subjects from around the world to offer diverse perspectives and options on how AI can be governed for the common good, aligning internationally interoperable governance with human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Using the example of DPI (digital public infrastructure), where the ownership of technology is democraticised, devoid of monopoly of all kinds, the Minister pushed for democraticing technology. Accessibility and affordability across sects have been the Government’s priority and a similar approach will be introduced in AI, as well, he quipped.
Vaishnaw’s remarks at the summit underscored India’s proactive stance in shaping global AI governance and policy frameworks to mitigate risks and maximize societal benefits.
Govt. to seek public-private partnerships to push AI
The Indian government is creating a public platform where compute power, high quality data sets, a common set of protocols and legal framework is available. The Minister further added that the country must harness AI’s potential while safeguarding against its misuse. Particularly in critical sectors like agriculture, education, healthcare, payment, finance and pharmaceuticals, in line with the vision and mission of digital India. To offer assistance for upcoming startups, he said that, “the government will offer support to deep-tech startups during the lean period before they start to enjoy profit”.
Minister of Railways; lnformation and Broadcasting; and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw addressing the gathering.
India will be investing in AI compute infrastructure of 10,000 or more GPU’s (Graphics processing unit) through a public-private partnership. The focus will be on developing an AI innovation center, on seeking high quality data sets aiding the growth of startups and researchers, an application development initiative where application relevant to the country’s social and economic development will be priortised. Emphasizing on skill development and employment opportunities, where the Govt. set up course curriculum in 104 universities, across the country for 5G and 6G development and semi-conductors, “there is a clear policy on bringing state-of-the-art technologies to India — be it Artificial Intelligence, Electric Vehicles or semiconductors. Such policies have been made so that the youth of the country can get more employment options and domestic startups can be benefitted”, he said.
