Sansad TV: Future & Challenge | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• The potential of AI extends beyond the limitations of capital and labor, creating new sources of value and growth. AI can enable intelligent automation for complex physical tasks, facilitate innovation diffusion across the economy, and automate manufacturing processes, including heavy industries and space industries, like car manufacturing, machine tool production, and computer chip production.
• Additionally, AI can be used in the finance industry to screen and analyze financial data, and even predict trends in the stock market more effectively than humans. In the aviation industry, expert systems can monitor atmospheric conditions and system statuses. AI also plays a role in social development and inclusive growth, providing access to quality healthcare, overcoming location barriers, and increasing productivity in agriculture. 
• In India, for example, NITI Aayog and IBM have signed a Statement of Intent to develop Precision Agriculture using AI in Aspirational Districts, and the National Payment Corporation of India has launched an AI-based chatbot, Pai, to raise awareness of NPCI's products like FASTag, RuPay, UPI, and AePS in real-time.

Lack of R&D on AI in India

• AI applications, rather than research and development (R&D), are the primary focus for both the Indian government and companies. However, the majority of this work falls on the mid and lower ends of the spectrum. India does not rank among the top 10 nations in terms of AI research, and experts suggest that the US, China, and the EU are leading the race, with the US currently in a slight lead.
• Techno-colonialism is a concern, where countries that control a technology exploit other countries that rely on access to it. In the US, close collaboration between academia and corporations has ensured sufficient funding for research, while the US government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency began AI research early. 
• China started later but invested heavily to catch up, whereas in India, neither the government nor the industry has prioritized research as much as the US and China. Therefore, India needs a long-term plan that includes finding funds for R&D, incentivizing research talent, and involving large corporations. The government must adopt a long-term view, as failure to act now could lead to India being dependent on other countries for technology.

Way Forward

• It is important for us to ensure trust in how AI is utilized, and algorithm transparency is crucial to establish this trust. We need to safeguard the world from the weaponization of AI by non-state actors. By leveraging data and AI, India can achieve its ambitious goal of becoming a US$5 trillion economy by 2025.
• For this to happen, AI must be widely implemented in all sectors including agriculture, MSMEs, financial services, healthcare, energy, and logistics, in order to create a thriving AI-driven economy.