Call for international accord on AI ethics

Salesforce India, emphasised the transformative potential of AI in India’s public service delivery. The CEO of the company underscored AI’s capability to revolutionise sectors like healthcare, education, and skill development, making services more accessible and cost-effective on a large scale.

The necessity for a Global Compact on AI was highlighted, stressing its cross-border impact and the need for international cooperation to ensure its benefits are maximised while mitigating potential risks.

It was cautioned that AI has a dual nature, capable of both tremendous societal benefits and potential harm if misused. Advocacy was made for careful regulation and responsible governance, akin to global efforts on climate change, to safeguard against misuse and ensure AI is utilized for the betterment of humanity.

It is important to draw parallels between the regulation needs of AI and other global challenges, suggesting that like climate issues, AI too transcends national borders and requires consensus and collaborative frameworks to guide its development and deployment responsibly. While AI is currently largely self-regulated, a structured global approach is crucial to address concerns around ethics, safety, and equitable distribution of its benefits.

AI presents an opportunity for India to leverage its abundant human resources effectively through technology, overcoming traditional barriers of scale and cost. By providing insights and optimising resource allocation, AI could facilitate a fairer distribution of services and contribute significantly to societal advancement.