Context:

There has been a rise in warnings against Artificial Intelligence (AI) by technology leaders, researchers and experts. 

• The  World Health Organization called for caution in using AI for public health care.  But there have been fewer voices in India supporting Responsible AI.

Immediate Threat: Reinforcing Biases and Trivializing Diversity

• Algorithms and AI can perpetuate biases and inequalities.
• Impact on marginalized groups and minorities.
• United Nations Development Programme and Apti institute highlighted algorithmic bias in various industries.

The world of machine learning:

• AI depends on Big Data or programmatic rules to learn about and simulate human intelligence, communication, and (potentially) actions.
• Machines learn from massive volumes of data created and provided by humans and are programmed to identify patterns and learn to replicate to make decisions. 

Issues:

• Machines do not have a sense of fairness or empathy that a society, especially with minorities and disempowered communities, leans on. 
• Every bias that we have had in the past can be learnt as a rule and insight, and applied as a generalization.

What AI deployment in India needs:

• We need clean, organized, digitized, and well-governed public data to build algorithms and models that benefit our people. 
• Both industry and governments must exercise caution and invest sufficiently in its research, development and scrutiny before embracing this innovation.
• Need to prioritize the development of AI in a responsible and informed manner.
• The private sector and practitioners should work collaboratively with governments on this journey. 
• It is crucial to emphasize that the goal must be to build intelligent machines that are inclusive and reflect the country’s diversity and heterogeneity. 
• Our adoption of this innovation should not hinder our progress towards equality and equity for all; it should support our reforms and endeavours for positive change.

News Source: The Hindu