Context:
Recently, India hosted the National Stakeholder Workshop on Safe, Trusted and Ethical AI.
Key Highlights of the Workshop
- United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) South Asia Regional Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), hosted the National Stakeholder Workshop on Safe, Trusted and Ethical AI in New Delhi.
- The event was held in the aftermath of India’s recent approval of the IndiaAI Mission, which has been allocated more than Rs 10,000 crore, towards bolstering India’s AI ecosystem.
- The workshop’s comprehensive agenda included sessions on AI fundamentals, Ethical Dimensions of AI, UNESCO’s Role in AI ethics and the current AI policy landscape in India.
- Extensive dialogue on the concept of safe and trusted AI, its ethical implications and the societal impact of AI technologies were deliberated upon through panel discussions.
What is AI?
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities.
What is ethical A.I?
Ethical AI is artificial intelligence that adheres to well-defined ethical guidelines regarding fundamental values, including such things as individual rights, privacy, non-discrimination, and non-manipulation.
- The AI is expected to add nearly $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, driven by advancements in various sectors such as healthcare, financial services, and telecommunications.
• To support this vision, MeitY has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the IndiaAI Mission.
- This mission is set to further catalyze technological self-reliance across the nation through its key components, including the IndiaAI Compute Capacity, IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC), IndiaAI Datasets Platform, IndiaAI Application Development Initiative, IndiaAI FutureSkills, IndiaAI Startup Financing, and Safe & Trusted AI.
- The workshop aimed to establish a foundation for informed policy development that promotes equitable and sustainable AI adoption nationwide.
• The ‘Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence’ was unanimously adopted in November 2021 by all 193 UNESCO Member States.
- It is the first international standard setting instrument on the ethics of AI.
- This is largely based on fundamental principles such as transparency and fairness as well as to ensure the critical role of human oversight in maintaining checks in AI systems.