Minister of state for electronics and information technology (IT) Jitin Prasada on Thursday said the government is in the process of consulting stakeholders on ensuring that AI technology is safe, trustworthy and responsible.
“There are a lot of concerns with the negatives of AI and the government is fully aware of this,” Prasada said at Financial Express.com’s Digital Bharat Economy Conclave.
“I can assure that the government is on top of it. We are in consultation with various stakeholders. But as we are aware that it is evolving and new to all, we’re trying to be ahead of the curve,” Prasada added.
Prasada’s assume significance as the government is currently focusing on implementation of the Rs 10,000 crore India AI mission to create a broader AI infrastructure in the country. However, the government’s approach towards ensuring responsible and trusted use of AI has been so far through various advisories for the platforms.
Notably, the government is working on a new AI legislation with an aim to regulate the technology in a manner that it does not stifle innovation.
On the startup financing under India AI mission, Prasada said, “the money is there, the government needs to prioritise how to spend it. There are startups, which only thrive on the grants of the government and we can’t really have people thriving on what the government has to offer”.
According to Prasada, the funding for startups under the IndiaAI mission has to be in such a manner that the startups who are already doing it for profits get less of funding, whereas those working for the service of the people get more.
The IndiaAI startup financing support will be provided to deep-tech AI startups for futuristic AI projects.
“Realising its immense value, we have a vision for the IndiaAI mission – Make AI in India and make AI work for India”, Prasada said, adding that AI has begun to display its tremendous potential to transform societies and individuals in domains of healthcare, education, and agriculture.
India’s AI market is expected to touch $17 billion by 2027, growing at annualised rate of 25-35% between 2024 and 2027, according to a Nasscom-BCG report.
Prasada said AI and startups are bridging the language divide. “The government’s signature language, AI creation, the Bhashini is at the forefront of this. Governance of the country has been made accessible to all citizens in their own language,” he said.
Under Digital India’s programme expansion, Bhashini the languages shall increase from 10 to all 22 scheduled languages of the constitution, Prasada added.