Express View on India and AI regulation: The cutting edge

Source– The post is based on the article “Express View on India and AI regulation: The cutting edge” published in “The Indian Express” on 29th August 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2  – Governance – Government policies, GS-3, Science and Technology- Awareness in the IT, computers

Relevance: Regulation of  Artificial intelligence

News– Indian government has decided to move in the direction of actively formulating regulations.

What is the approach followed by various jurisdictions for regulating AI?

European approach-  The regulatory structure aims to categorize artificial intelligence systems based on the level of risk they present. These levels of risk are divided into four groups: minimal, limited, high, and unacceptable.

This model also proposes the establishment of a European Artificial Intelligence Board responsible for supervising the enforcement of regulations.

Indian approach- A document published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in July outlined a potential structure for regulation.

It suggested the creation of an independent statutory body and a diverse stakeholder group comprising government, academia, and industry representatives to provide guidance.

The document put forward a matrix for classifying AI applications based on their risk levels and recommended regulating them in accordance with principles of responsible AI.

These principles encompassed inclusive growth, sustainable development, fairness, transparency, explainability, robustness, security, safety, and accountability.

The TRAI document also discusses the establishment of a global organization responsible for the “advancement, establishment of standards, and utilization of AI technology.”

Way forward-
The influence of AI is poised to extend beyond the realm of information technology. It is reaching various domains such as education, healthcare, and finance.

AI systems encompass matters ranging from privacy concerns to biases and inequities, security vulnerabilities, intellectual property entitlements. It demands a forward-thinking strategy.

Furthermore, regulatory structures cannot operate in isolation. AI’s impact is not confined by geographic limits. Effective global cooperation will be imperative as AI transcends geographical boundaries.