India Aims to Foster AI Innovation Without Over-Regulation, Will Act if Needed: Minister to Satya Nadella
India is focused on fostering innovation and does not wish to over-regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI), but the government has made it clear that it will take legislative action if challenges arise, particularly with the risks AI poses.
In a fireside chat with Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, emphasized the government’s awareness of the risks tied to AI, referencing a viral deepfake of the Home Minister during the last Lok Sabha elections. He stated, “We are aware of the challenges, including misinformation, and if these issues grow larger, the government will not hesitate to introduce laws to address them.”
While the government currently promotes innovation and allows for self-regulation through intermediary guidelines and laws, it remains committed to taking action if needed. India’s openness to innovation is what has attracted major tech companies like Microsoft.
Nadella agreed with the Minister’s sentiment, asserting that big tech and the broader industry must take responsibility to ensure that the benefits of AI are not overshadowed by unintended consequences. “Trust is earned, not claimed,” he added, stressing that AI development must be responsible, prioritizing privacy, security, and safety alongside technological advancement.
Regarding whether India should develop its own AI foundational model, Nadella acknowledged that India could take that route but noted that substantial investment is required for creating such models. He also commented on the potential for breakthroughs in AI, suggesting that the next significant development could completely change the field. “We are always one mathematical breakthrough away from the entire AI landscape shifting,” he said.
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