Adoption of AI and AI Strategy: Preparing India's Youth for a New Era

India's AI industry is expanding quickly through several government initiatives, a booming tech sector, and a pool of highly qualified workers. The government of India has acknowledged the potential of artificial intelligence. These initiatives are backed by large investments in startups with an AI focus and partnerships between the public sector, academia, and business. The National AI Strategy and the IndiaAI program are two of the many initiatives the Indian government has made to encourage the adoption of AI.

Global technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, and IBM are expanding their AI research and development centres in India. In contrast, India's  IT industry, including major competitors such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, has begun incorporating AI in its services. Furthermore, India has skilled data scientists, machine learning specialists, and AI researchers, many of whom are advancing the field's leading edge.

Is the adoption of AI still a challenge in India?

Ethical issues requiring a strong AI infrastructure still need to be resolved. Focussing on innovation, resolving ethical and legal issues, and developing talent will be essential to positioning India as a worldwide leader in AI development as it expands its AI capabilities.   

How will the Adoption of AI in India benefit in the future?

Increased Accessibility

The government aims to democratise AI technology by giving Indian languages top priority while training AI models. This will allow the public to have greater exposure to this technology. Most Indians who feel more comfortable speaking regional languages than English would gain the most from this project, helping to close the digital gap and guarantee that AI-driven solutions consider the nation's linguistic variety.

Cultural Sensitivity

Developing AI to understand Indian languages involves more than just translating words; it incorporates cultural differences into the system. This would make AI systems more sensitive to cultural differences and aware of them, lessening the possibility that they would produce offensive or improper stuff. This program could increase the Indian population's trust and adoption of AI technologies by combining AI with local cultural norms and values.

National Security

The idea also has major implications for national security because it concentrates on data in Indian languages. Sensitive data can be translated more successfully by reducing dependence on foreign language models, which lowers the risk of data breaches and outside entity misuse. This strategy could improve the security and integrity of AI systems employed in the nation and is consistent with the larger aims of data independence.

Economic Gains

This initiative's promotion of AI development will probably result in big financial gains. It might encourage the creation of new professions in language processing and culture analysis specifically, as well as in AI research, development, and deployment. Furthermore, developing AI sectors centred on Indian languages may give rise to fresh markets and ventures, strengthen India's economy, and establish the nation as a global leader in AI innovation.

India's development of AI laws

Deepfakes are a "threat to democracy," according to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who announced efforts to control their proliferation on social media last November. Vaishnaw outlined the government's plan, centering on public awareness, reporting, prevention, and deepfake detection. MeitY also released a recommendation on 1 March, requiring the naming of AI models still in testing and outlawing illegal content. A recent ministry's advice mandating standard labeling of all AI-generated content has reaffirmed this mandate.

IT Secretary S Krishnan further reassured the business in May that although the government aims to regulate AI, innovation won't be hindered. "We will ensure that both the interests of innovation and protection of vital interests will come in in the future," Krishnan said, reflecting on the strategy used with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

How can we protect the children and youth of India from AI?

Age-Appropriate Content

One of the most critical steps is the establishment of laws requiring AI systems to pick out content that is considered unsuitable for younger audiences. Designing AI algorithms that automatically identify and block dangerous information can help achieve this goal and guarantee that young users are only exposed to content appropriate for their age group. Children would be safer online, protecting them from possibly dangerous or inappropriate material.

Parental Controls

Another important step is giving parents the powerful tools to monitor and manage their kids' interactions with AI. Examples of parental controls are features that let parents monitor their children's online behaviour, impose usage restrictions, and block access to particular apps or material. These technologies can assist in preventing children from seeing improper content or participating in harmful online behaviours by providing parents with more oversight.

Digital Literacy

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly ingrained in daily life, we must support the development of digital literacy among children and young people. Educational programs that inform youth about AI's potential benefits and risks can provide them with the knowledge they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Digital literacy initiatives should also include guidance on critical thinking, privacy awareness, and understanding AI's role in society, helping them to become informed and cautious digital citizens.

Ethical principles

Preventing the development of biassed or destructive AI systems requires developing and enforcing ethical principles for AI use and development. These policies should cover data security, openness, and the moral treatment of AI users—especially kids. The government and AI developers can collaborate to develop AI systems that put the safety and well-being of young users first by setting explicit ethical guidelines. This will guarantee that AI technology is applied in just and helpful ways.

Conclusion

MeitY's suggestion is a start in the right direction, but it is essential to find a balance between encouraging AI development and ensuring it's used responsibly and ethically. India can leverage AI to the advantage of its people by addressing issues with data privacy, cultural sensitivity, and kid safety. In line with the guidelines established by the Coalition for Material Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) in the US, where the firm is headquartered, Meta announced the development of tools to detect "invisible markers" in AI-generated material earlier this year. Another goal of this project is to label photos from well-known AI developers like Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Adobe, Midjourney, and Shutterstock.