By – Himanshu Mishra
With India continuing to emerge as a global technological power, the integration of artificial intelligence with all sectors has gained unprecedented momentum. With such a vast population and diversified economy, the scope for AI to change dynamics in social and economic development is well-defined. However, the rapid proliferation of AI technologies has brought in critical questions related to ethical governance, data privacy, and socio-economic implications of automation. The paper will discuss the opportunities and challenges surrounding AI policy in India, and it will revolve around the responsible governance to achieve good for its people.
The Emergence of AI in India: Opportunities and Challenges
It has also been seen through the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which NITI Aayog released in 2018 under which India aims to be an AI leader by developing it. The strategy mentions the range of sectors under AI for which India could achieve considerable breakthroughs. These sectoral fields run from healthcare, and agriculture to education and smart cities. With AI, India looks to deliver quality services more efficiently, increase productivity, and promote innovation.
However, the integration in India by AI technologies does not face the challenges of itself. There are various such challenges with this technological advancement. One among them is unemployment due to automation. It is because AI can even make processes simpler and efficient but in the process, many people will remain unemployed, especially those who have been working in low-skilled sectors. A report by the World Economic Forum has indicated that automation will lead to high job displacement in manufacturing and services in India. Policymakers need to address these issues so that the benefits of AI are distributed equally and provide reskilling opportunities for the workers affected.
Data Privacy and Ethical Concerns
Data privacy in AI has emerged as one of the hot topics in India. Data-driven algorithms used greatly raise questions about how personal information is being accumulated, stored, and used in India. Still, even now, without a comprehensive data protection framework as the cause, any Indian citizen is predisposed to falls under data breach and misuse of the same. In that concern, the much-awaited Personal Data Protection Bill is presented before India’s Parliament from 2019 onward. It indicates that the bill needs not only an appropriate but urgent legislation.
AI systems are highly dependent on large amounts of data, thereby raising questions on consent and the autonomy of the user. In most applications of AI, personal information of an individual is involved in sectors like healthcare and finance. The implication of such collection of data without the consent of users is too important to be mentioned. This requires the Indian government to make proper data protection measures available with transparency and accountability so that people can believe in AI technologies.
Bridging the Digital Divide
AI is, in itself a powerful disruptor in the Indian economy but can further exacerbate the inequality already prevalent. It is the primary barrier in terms of accessibility and participation when it comes to the AI revolution. Often, internet connection and digital knowledge plus infrastructure so required to capitalize upon AI technological devices are denied to the rural areas. AI would then become yet another medium by which benefits concentrate further among the privileged in urbanized segments.
To bridge the digital divide in India, its government needs investment in digital infrastructure as well as through education and information programs. Programmes for digitization can endow individuals living in rural sectors with the proper knowledge to ensure the benefits accruing from artificial intelligence. Until and unless proper access to such technology is obtained, India could not have that more inclusive artificial intelligence ecosystem supporting all sections of society.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement and Joint Governance
Issues in AI governance would demand a multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder approach from government, industry, academia, and civil society. Policymakers would need to reach out to technologists and ethicists to come up with a framework that could balance innovation and responsible governance. Public consultations can be very enlightening in getting at societal concerns and help policy-making reflect diverse needs of populations.
There is, additionally, tremendous cooperation scope between the public and private sectors for responsible innovation. Tech companies should be influenced to assume responsible ethical regulations that respect the privacy of the users and also social implications of their innovations. Guidelines at the industry level will ensure proper development and implementation of AI.
Responsible AI Regulatory Framework
An environment of ethical deployment of AI needs to be established for India, which can be possible only with a robust regulatory framework. These regulations must cover various aspects, including data protection, accountability of algorithms, and ethical norms for the development of AI. Regulations should evolve at a faster pace than the evolution of AI technologies and protect the rights of individuals at the same time.
International collaboration is also a very important role player in the AI policy of India. India will be able to develop a holistic approach to the governance of AI by engaging with global initiatives and learning from the best practices across the world. Organizations like GPAI can help India understand how effective regulatory measures can be achieved.
