United Nations: Artificial Intelligence, if harnessed properly, can generate enormous prosperity and opportunity, India has said, underscoring the need to ensure AI systems are not misused and that advancement of digital super intelligence must be symbiotic with humanity.
Speaking at a special event ‘Artificial Intelligence for Social Justice’, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj underlined that if harnessed properly, AI can generate enormous prosperity and opportunity, leading to vastly more productive and efficient economies.
The event was hosted by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in partnership with NGO Foundation for Human Horizon at the UN headquarters on the occasion of the 132nd birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar here on Friday.
Kamboj quoted Ambedkar saying “We are Indians, firstly and lastly”.
She said the Father of the Constitution of India had emphasised that all Indians, regardless of their caste, religion, or social status, should be treated equally, and enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
“And the Government of India’s motto ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ emphasises just that, a society where everyone should have equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstance.” She added that as the mid-term review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) beckons in September 2023, the international community needs to turbocharge the SDGs to ensure the social and economic development of one and all.
“How then can AI power social justice? How can AI overcome barriers and unleash opportunities for all,” she said.
“As true for any technology, there is a need to take required measures and put in place adequate safeguards to ensure that AI systems are not misused or guided by biases leading to discrimination. As said, the advance of digital super intelligence should be / must be symbiotic with humanity,” Kamboj added.
Kamboj also highlighted that India’s commitment to using AI for social empowerment has “given us the idea to use it in the sectors of agriculture, healthcare, and education.” The Indian government has created AI algorithms to forecast agricultural yields, assisting farmers in making more informed decisions about their crops and lowering the chance of losses, she said adding that this has aided in enhancing farmers’ financial circumstances and advancing social justice in the agricultural industry.
On the medical front, AI is being employed to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments in India’s underserved regions. She cited the example of the eSanjeevani scheme, which was launched in 2019 and aims to provide healthcare services to people in rural and remote areas of India, where access to healthcare is limited.
She noted that the Indian Government has started a number of programs to use AI to educate marginalised populations.
PTI

Press Trust of India