As big tech companies adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and support its mass adoption, experts believe we might shift to a generation where humans and generative AI will co-exist. The global generative AI market size can reach $667.96 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 47.5%, as per insights from Fortune Business Insights. It is believed with the help of machine learning tech companies will be able to cut down cost structures and speed up the supply chain management. The global Machine Learning (ML) market size is expected to grow to $225.91 billion by 2030. Experts believe the ability of AI to act on command can upgrade the existing tech ecosystem. In conversation with FE-TransformX, Sarvjeet Herald, director, India STEM Foundation, on how humans and AI can co-exist to build a technologically advanced ecosystem. (Edited excerpts)
What role does the synergy of generative AI and humans play in addressing real-world problems and challenges?
Generative AI might sound like complicated terms but we have been using this for daily use. For example, a report by IBM shows that about 53% of Information technology (IT) professionals have adopted Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their business structures. With generative AI daily tasks such as collecting data and keeping track of complex tasks, among others with better efficiency can speed up the working process of business structures. Apart from that it can also detect emerging cybersecurity threats and provide suggestions for that.
What trends or advancements in generative AI do you foresee impacting the future?
There has been a record of data leakage and unnecessary data storage which has been used later on for illegal purposes or personal interests. With advancements in generative AI, there is a chance that we will be able to build robots that might help in deleting such data history and identifying the storage source, eventually removing it. This way no human intervention will be required to manage data or manipulation of data. Apart from this, there is something termed ‘Explainable AI’ which might help humans to understand the issue and create awareness along with providing solutions.
How does the India Stem Foundation contribute to this?
India Stem Foundation is a non-profit organisation which aims to provide education to children and their parents about science and technology. We work with government bodies such as the World Robot Olympiad Association (WRO), a Singapore-based non-profit organisation, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to organise World Robot Olympiads (WRO) and set up labs where everyone can participate and learn about technologies such as robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence among others.
Are you going to target tier-2 and tier-3 cities in future? How are you going to do so?
This year the National Entrance Test (NET) and Virtual Regional Rounds, were aimed at making WRO more accessible for school students. Regional rounds were conducted in Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, and Bhopal for the teams that qualified through NET and Virtual Regionals. A total of 42 teams progressed to the National Championship, competing alongside 160 private teams. We are aiming to reach rural areas by partnering with Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) which is a government initiative to make electronics labs more accessible in India. The government funded more than 10,000 schools to have electronic equipment, as a result, we were able to reach out to tier-2, and tier-3 cities and expect to grow more.
How has the India Stem Foundation evolved over the years in promoting robotics and STEM education?
Recently on October 3, 2023, we organised the WRO India 2023 National Championship on the theme ‘Connecting the World’. In a world where technology advances at an unprecedented pace, the India STEM Foundation, through events such as the WRO India 2023 National Championship, is aiming for a transformative educational movement. With over 4,000 students and 202 teams participating, this year’s event saw a growing interest in STEM in India. With initiatives such as the National Entrance Test (NET) and Virtual Regional Rounds, among others, we plan to make WRO more accessible for school students. As we look forward to the 2024 season, we anticipate even greater participation and hope to contribute more advancements in the technology field.
