Mantris seek answers on pitfalls of AI

■ PM chairs Niti Ayog event on using tech for mass welfare ◗ The entire Union Cabinet and top bureaucrats of the Central ministries were in attendance

With the NDA government aggressively pushing the concept of artificial intelligence ( AI) — aiming to increase its penetration in significant fields like agriculture, health, education, and law — at least two Central ministers, during an event held on the subject and presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, expressed concerns regarding data safety if it has to be accessed for the purpose.

They also sought to know as to who could be held liable in case of a negative fallout of an action determined through the artificial intelligence .

According to sources privy to developments, the two ministers, who are associated with key ministries in the Modi Cabinet, sought to know from a panel of experts on AI ( which consisted of IIT professors and entrepreneurs), as to whether there could be a framework in place to ensure that data related to agriculture, health, education, and other important aspects could be protected if it is to be used for greater artificial intelligence penetration.

The event was the fourth edition of Niti Aayog’s lecture series, where the keynote address on ‘ leveraging AI for inclusive growth’ was delivered by Mr Jensen Huang, the president and co- founder of NVIDIA Corporation.

Sources said that the panel sought to allay the concerns of the minister by saying that whenever data is used for AI purposes, no personal details are leaked and it is “normalised” ( sanitised) data which is provided.

Meanwhile, delivering the keynote address, Mr Huang praised the framework prepared on AI by the Niti Aayog and said that India has the capability of developing artificial intelligence resources on its own as no foreign entity or personnel can provide solutions suiting homegrown conditions.

Later, breaking protocol, Mr Modi personally interacted with Mr Huang and the top officials of Niti Aayog, exchanging pleasantries with them.

The Prime Minister has pushed for AI to improve crop production and digitisation of land records, and also its usage in legal issues, as it can also help in reducing pendency in courts and proper maintenance of health records.