Union Minister Suresh Prabhu this week said that the Government is set to use artificial intelligence for good governance and proper regulations. Prabhu, who holds the portfolios for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation added that corrective action will be taken to protect citizen’s privacy and ownership of data.

Prabhu also added that since AI is the technology of today and one who masters this will rule the world. Every country is developing an AI strategy and India too is working on developing a strategy for the use of AI for the common good.

“This is the first time in human history that machines are making decisions based on data and experience and we have to learn to deal with this kind of decision making. The government will have to put in place mechanisms on how data is used and algorithms are written,” said Prabhu. “As all the data being generated in the world today is being controlled by a few companies, it is creating asymmetries as very few create, understand and use this data. This has given rise to a very powerful elite who are controlling millions of lives. The government will have to take massive efforts in the fundamental education of every Indian from school level so that access to mathematics and technology is available to each and every student. In the present world, those who can’t access technology will be on the other side as AI is creating an ethical divide. Therefore, education at the foundation level has to be upgraded urgently,” he added.

Addressed at the International Colloquium on Ethics and Governance of Autonomous #ArtificialInteligence Systems. New Ideas and #Technologies have a broader impact in today's society and it must be governed and guided by ethics for a better tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Aavh7tRlVK

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) February 18, 2019

Prabu was speaking at the International Colloquium on Ethics and Governance of Autonomous AI System for a Better World held in New Delhi. The two-day Colloquium was organised by the Department of Science and Technology, CMS, ITUAPT and InfocomThink Tank.

The opening session was addressed by Prof K Vijay Raghvan, Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India and Dr RS Sharma, Chairman, TRAI. Prof. Vijay Raghvan in his remarks said that Government of India has taken the initiative to formulate a national strategy for use of AI and make the process transparent and participative in order to create awareness in civil society about AI.