Major concerns of AI use in India

Source: The post major concerns of AI use in India has been created, based on the article “The regulation of Al should take its climate impact into account” published in “Live mints” on 1st May 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3– Science and Technology – Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Context: The article discusses how widely AI is used in India compared to other countries and its impact on energy and the environment. It mentions the need for India to develop AI regulations focusing on potential job losses and environmental effects. Challenges of AI in India

For details information on Building Sovereign AI in India read here

What is the current status of AI use in India?

High Adoption Rate: India shows a strong AI adoption with 70% of its firms already running AI projects, compared to the US at 53%.

Data Utilization for AI: 91% of Indian companies plan to use their data for training AI models, which is higher than the global average of 62%

What are the major concerns of AI use in India?

Regulatory Framework: India is planning to develop AI regulations that are initially light-handed, focusing particularly on potential job losses, indicating a concern over the social impacts of rapid AI adoption.

For details information on Regulation of AI read here

Energy Consumption: AI’s significant energy demand is highlighted, with a note that computational power requirements are doubling roughly every 100 days. This vast energy consumption is further compounded by the cooling needs of AI systems, which could require large volumes of water.

Environmental Impact: The energy-intensive nature of AI operations is a major concern as it may increase reliance on fossil fuels, exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions. The article notes that unchecked AI deployment could dramatically boost electricity demand, thereby challenging

For details information on How AI can help the environment read here

What should be done?

Integrate AI with Renewable Energy Programs: Utilize AI to enhance India’s renewable energy initiatives, given AI’s potential to optimize energy systems including solar and wind power integration. This is crucial as AI itself increases energy demands.

Address Scope 3 Emissions: Industries must consider the environmental impact of AI under Scope 3 emissions, which include indirect emissions associated with activities like data processing and system cooling. This is vital to align with net-zero ambitions and manage climate impact.

Sources:
Monitor and Adjust Policies Regularly: As the situation evolves, it is important to continuously update and adjust policies to ensure they remain effective in managing the growth and impact of AI, keeping in mind the ultimate goal of sustainability and responsible AI usage.

Question for practice:

Examine the current status of AI adoption in India and the major concerns associated with its usage.