Diplomatic Dispatch- India & Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

GPAI

• GPAI stands as an international, multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at guiding the responsible development and utilization of AI. Rooted in principles of human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth, GPAI will receive support from a Secretariat, to be housed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, along with two Centers of Expertise, located in Montreal and Paris, respectively.
• Through its chairing of GPAI, India will actively engage in the global advancement of Artificial Intelligence, drawing upon its extensive experience in utilizing digital technologies for inclusive growth.

Noteworthy Advances and Applications of AI

• AI holds vast potential to transcend the limitations of capital and labor, thereby unlocking new avenues for value creation and economic expansion.
• It serves as a catalyst for growth by enabling intelligent automation, facilitating the automation of intricate physical tasks within the real world.
• Innovation diffusion is propelled through the economy, stimulating advancements and progress.
• In Heavy Industries & Space sectors, AI enables complete automation of manufacturing processes, controlling and maintaining operations through computer systems. This includes tasks such as car manufacturing, machine tool production, and computer chip manufacturing, along with handling hazardous materials.
• In Finance, AI-powered software applications are employed by banks for screening and analyzing financial data, while predictive software predicts stock market trends with exceptional accuracy.
• In Aviation, expert systems are utilized to monitor atmospheric conditions and system statuses within aircraft, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Role in Social Development and Inclusive Growth

• AI plays a pivotal role in social development and inclusive growth by facilitating access to quality healthcare, addressing geographical barriers, providing real-time advisory services to farmers to enhance productivity, and fostering the development of smart and efficient cities.
• The exponential growth of data continuously fuels advancements in AI, contributing to its expansion and refinement.
• AI finds diverse applications across sectors such as Healthcare, Education, Smart Cities, Environment, Agriculture, and Smart Mobility.

Examples of AI Implementation in India:

• A Statement of Intent has been established between NITI Aayog and IBM to develop Precision Agriculture using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Aspirational Districts.
• The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced Pai, an AI-based chatbot, to raise awareness about NPCI's products like FASTag, RuPay, UPI, and AePS in real-time.

Insufficient Focus on AI Research and Development in India

• Both government entities and corporations in India are predominantly emphasizing AI applications rather than investing in research and development (R&D). Furthermore, the majority of AI work is concentrated at the intermediate and lower levels of the spectrum. Regrettably, India does not rank among the top 10 nations in terms of AI research. According to experts, the primary contenders in the global AI race are presently the US, China, and the EU, with the US holding a slight advantage, while India has yet to enter the fray. There is a looming risk of finding ourselves on the wrong side of techno-colonialism, akin to previous general-purpose technology (GPT) revolutions that resulted in a division between nations with access to technology and those without. Techno-colonialism refers to the exploitation of less affluent countries by those controlling a particular technology upon which these countries rely.
• In the US, a robust collaboration between academia and corporations has ensured ample funding for research, promising dividends in the future. The US government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has also been actively engaged in AI research since its inception. While China embarked on its AI journey later, significant investments have propelled its efforts to catch up. In contrast, India's government and industry have not prioritized research to the same extent as the US and China.
• India urgently needs to devise a comprehensive long-term plan for AI research, akin to its approach to other infrastructure initiatives. This entails reallocating resources to allocate funds for R&D, providing incentives to attract research talent, and engaging major corporations in research endeavors. Such a strategic approach requires the government to adopt a forward-thinking perspective. Failure to initiate these efforts promptly will perpetuate our reliance on others rather than establishing ourselves as leaders in technology.

Way Forward

• It is incumbent upon us collectively to ensure trust in the application of AI. Transparency in algorithms is crucial for fostering this trust. Additionally, safeguards must be implemented to protect against the weaponization of AI by non-state actors.
• Leveraging data and AI, India can aspire to realize its ambitious goal of becoming a US$5 trillion economy by 2025. To achieve this objective, AI must be extensively harnessed across all sectors, including agriculture, MSMEs, financial services, healthcare, energy, and logistics, thereby fostering a dynamic AI-driven economy.