Making AI Work for India

Context: The Responsible AI for Social Empowerment (RAISE) 2020 summit has brought issues around artificial intelligence (AI) to the centre of policy discussions.

An Overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Definition: AI is the branch of computer science concerned with developing machines that can complete tasks that typically require human intelligence

• Economic contribution: AI-led digital economy estimated to contribute around $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. 

Factors that favour AI in India

• Large AI trained workforce: The country has been ranked second on the Stanford AI Vibrancy Index primarily on account of its large AI-trained workforce. 

• Institutional setup: Technology institutes like the Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs)s, Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) have the potential to be the cradle of AI researchers and start-ups.

• Role of Start-ups: Start-ups are innovating and developing solutions with AI across education, health, financial services and other domains to solve societal problems.

• Aspirations of a data-driven society:  India wants to build a data-rich and a data-driven society which offers limitless opportunities to improve society, empower individuals and increase the ease of doing business. 

Scope of AI in India:

• In Education: 

• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has integrated AI in the school curriculum to ensure that students gain basic knowledge and skills of data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence. 

• “Responsible AI for Youth” programme launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) wherein more than 11,000 students from government schools completed the basic course in AI.

•  India’s “AI for All” strategy: It focuses on responsible AI, building AI solutions at scale with an intent to make India the AI garage of the world.

• Developing a Legal Framework: As AI derives strength from data, the government is in a process to place a strong legal framework governing the data of Indians.

• The legislation stems from a desire to become a highly secure and ethical AI powerhouse.

• In Disaster Management: An AI-Based Flood forecasting model has been implemented in Bihar is now being expanded to cover the whole of India
• It ensures that around 200 million people across 2,50,000 square kilometres get alerts and warnings 48 hours earlier about impending floods. 

• These alerts are given in nine languages and are localised to specific areas and villages with adequate use of infographics and maps to ensure that it reaches all. 

• In Health:  Machine Learning-based deep-learning algorithms in AI can give insights to healthcare providers in predicting future events for patients. 

• Aid in the early detection and prevention of diseases. For E.g- A Bengaluru based start-up has developed a non-invasive, AI-enabled technology to screen for early signs of breast cancer.
• AI helped biopharmaceutical companies to significantly shorten the preclinical drug identification and design process from several years to a few days or months

• In COVID 19 response: An AI-enabled Chatbot was used by MyGov for ensuring communications.

• In Agriculture and aid to the farmers

• AI-based solutions on water management, crop insurance and pest control are being developed. 
• It can help farmers kill weeds more effectively, harvest better crops and ensure higher yields (10%-30%)

•  International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has developed an AI-power sowing app, which utilises weather models and data on local crop yield and rainfall to more accurately predict and advise local farmers on planting seeds. 

• Providing Voice-based products with strong vernacular language support can help make accurate information more accessible to farmers.

• Providing Credit: AI-based systems can help is establishing partnerships with financial institutions with a strong rural presence to provide farmers with access to credit. 

• In Economic Growth: Analysts predict that AI can help add up to $957 billion to the Indian economy by 2035.

• As the AI works for digital inclusion in India, it will have a ripple effect on economic growth and prosperity. 
• Employment Opportunities: By 2025, data and AI can add over $500 billion and almost 20 million jobs to the Indian economy.