The VIF under the Science & Technology series organised a talk on “AI Growth and Readiness Initiative (AGRI)” by Mr Kundana Kumar Lal, President, Vitti Foundation, on 22 July 2024. The talk focussed on three key aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI as a transformational technology; Current global status of AI development; and, ⁠India’s risk and opportunities. The meeting discussed the transformative potential of AI; its impact on various sectors including military, economic and strategic; global competition to develop and deploy AI capabilities; and, the need for regulation and strategic planning. Director, Dr Arvind Gupta, who chaired the discussion, highlighted the increasing pervasiveness of AI and the transformational nature of AI technology. Senior government officials, scientists, representatives from the industry, academia, and members from the strategic community in addition to the VIF expert group members participated in the discussion.

AI is a transformational technology that is now widely discussed and has potential biases in its algorithms. AI is not just a technological advancement, but it is a transformative force with profound implications for global geopolitics and the international order. As AI continues to evolve, its influence on the economic, military, education, health and strategic dimensions of power is becoming increasingly significant. The capabilities and proficiency in AI are important, particularly in defence and social areas like health and education. Autonomous intelligence, such as autonomous cars, is a point of concern due to its decision-making abilities. AI is transitioning from narrow intelligence to general intelligence, which will learn from unstructured data. AI-based automation will create a significant gap between countries’ economies. AI has the potential to innovate and work on hundreds of technologies simultaneously.

Quantum computing and neuromorphic computation are generally considered as the future technologies, but they are already in use today. Quantum computing will have a profound impact on AI and is being heavily invested globally. However, neuromorphic computation AI may be more effective than quantum computing, which has limitations and high costs. There is need to assess the need for Indian companies to be involved in these technologies and their impact on AI. The rapid development of AI means that governments and bureaucracies may struggle to keep up with regulations. AI has already surpassed human capabilities in many areas, indicating that there will be no equilibrium for at least the next 20-30 years. Technology has brought advancements but also poses a danger to humanity and the environment. The AI is going to have major impact on job roles and labour.

India is lagging behind in the AI and needs to recognize the challenges to take action. It lacks innovation and products in AI, while China is catching up fast. Data sovereignty is crucial as China is leveraging data to train AI, while US companies control Indian data. AI can be trained to improve accuracy and outcomes, but it needs to be carefully controlled. Different countries have adopted different approaches to AI, with a focus on industry innovation and national security. Therefore, India cannot afford to miss the transformative opportunities presented by the AI. It must invest heavily in AI capacity and capability building. In this context, it needs to strategize and prioritize AI development, leveraging its data and collaborating with international partners. Importantly, bureaucratic control, lack of private sector interest, and brain drain contribute to India’s technological challenges.

R&D is crucial for innovation in AI and its benefits are needed by everyone, but the wealthy disproportionately benefit. Planning and strategy are needed to determine where AI investments should be focussed and what goals to prioritize. In addition, laws and standards governing AI usage are necessary to avoid biases and ensure ethical practices. India particularly needs to focus on developing a roadmap for AI adoption and capability development at all levels, including schools, universities, and industries. It needs to identify milestones, required funding, players and skills; and, needs to create a conducive environment that promotes cost-benefit analysis of AI adoption and encourages private sector involvement. In this context, there is need to establish AI innovation hubs across India.

Nevertheless, India has opportunity to take a leadership role in AI ethics by developing an ethical value system for AI; delving into Indian heritage and research the potential of using Sanskrit as a language for AI communication; discussing strategies for incorporating human values into AI systems; and, investigating the use of AI in biomedicine and formulate new drugs based on traditional Indian medical systems.