The need to build sovereign AI capabilities

Source– The post is based on the article “The need to build sovereign AI capabilities” published in the “Business Standard” on 5th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Science and technology – Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.

Relevance- Issues related to AI development in India

News– The article explains the issue of building sovereign AI capablities by India

What is the petential of AI?

AI and deep learning are increasingly used in recent years across various applications, like e-commerce recommendations and self-driving cars.

The emergence of Generative AI, including models like ChatGPT, DALL-E from OpenAI, Bard from Google has ushered in a new era.

Generative AI models can generate fresh content from unstructured data, provide coherent responses to natural language queries,and propose solutions and ideas.

These solutions have potential to transform fields ranging from drug discovery to the creation of video and audio content. This technology is likely to have a more profound impact on the global economy and society.

What are challenges for India in ddevloping it own capablities in AI?

Numerous Indian companies, like Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys have embraced Generative AI. But, none of them have developed their own foundational AI models .

Indian technology firms and even the Indian government have primarily concentrated on the applications of AI. However, focusing exclusively on applications would be a mistake.

Establishing AI capabilities like Generative AI models, will pose a significant challenge for India due to its late entry into this domain.

In the United States, both university research institutes and technology giants like OpenAI, Google have invested substantial resources in cutting-edge AI research.

In China, companies like Baidu and SenseTime, along with numerous startups, have created their own Generative AI models.

In European countries, many firms and research institutions in France, Germany, and other European nations are developing their own transformer and other AI models.

Even in South Korea, internet giant Naver is entering the AI research arena.

What should be done?

India should also invest in the capacity to create indigenous foundational AI models. Furthermore, India needs to commence research into the next frontier of AI, known as General AI.

India must formulate a clear plan and execute it effectively. One option is for the Indian government to take the lead and establish a national AI computing center.

Another approach, is similar to the original charter of OpenAI. It involves collaboration between influential Indian IT firms to fund an AI research institute.

This cooperative model would require setting aside market rivalries to focus on the long-term common good.

Iit is imperative for the government to formulate policies that can attract the most brilliant Indian minds currently engaged in AI research in the United States or Europe back to India.

China’s AI research program has incentivized highly talented Chinese engineers and AI researchers who in US or European universities to work in China.

The Indian government must formulate startegy to attract the best Indian AI talent to return from Silicon Valley and US universities.

The government should consider enacting new legislation related to copyright and data usage, granting primary rights over non-personal data generated within the country to Indian entities.