‘India to soon launch AI missions for agriculture, healthcare’: PM Modi at GPAI Summit 2023

India is set to embark on a new mission that will combine the powers of AI with healthcare and agriculture. This will also bolster India’s computing capabilities, with a specific focus on providing support to small businesses and startups, announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2023, Modi outlined the mission’s objective to establish robust AI computing power within the country, facilitating improved facilities for innovators and startups.

“This will help India’s innovators and startups get better facilities. Under this mission, AI applications in agriculture, healthcare and education-related sectors will be promoted,” said the Prime Minister.

Underlining the importance of inclusivity in AI technology, Modi emphasized the need for development guided by human and democratic values.

He stated, “The more inclusive the development journey of AI, the more inclusive will be the results.” The Prime Minister also highlighted the significance of incorporating emotions, ethics, and efficiency in the direction of AI development. “The direction of AI development will totally depend on human and democratic values. It is up to us to keep a place for emotions along with efficiency, ethics along with effectiveness,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi also raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI, emphasizing the dual nature of the technology as both a tool for development and a potential threat.

He highlighted challenges such as deep fake technology, cybersecurity risks, data theft, and the possibility of terrorists exploiting AI tools.

“While AI can become the biggest tool for development, it can also play a vital role in destroying the 21st century. The entire world is facing the challenge of deep fake. Apart from this, cybersecurity, data theft and terrorists getting hold of AI tools also present grave dangers for the world,” Modi said.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, the union minister for electronics and information technology, shared India’s commitment to harnessing AI for inclusive growth.

Vaishnaw outlined the vision for AI applications in sectors such as native language-based citizen services, accessible healthcare, and precision agriculture techniques to enhance crop yield.

“India believes in harnessing the potential of AI for inclusive growth. This vision translates into AI use in sectors such as serving citizens through native language, making healthcare accessible and improving yield through precision agriculture techniques,” Vaishnaw said.

Addressing the event, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the minister of state for electronics and information technology, acknowledged the accelerated pace of AI development in the last 18 months.

He stressed the importance of transparency and bias-free algorithms in AI models to build trust among users.

The GPAI, a global alliance consisting of 29 countries including the US, the UK, the EU, Germany, Israel, Singapore, Australia, Belgium, and France, aims to guide the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence.

The alliance is grounded in principles such as human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth. The GPAI Summit 2023 marks a pivotal moment in international collaboration on shaping the future of AI.

(With inputs from agencies)