Hyderabad can emerge as India’s AI, robotics hub: Experts

Experts in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and data protection in the US have commended the significant progress made by India, with particular emphasis on Telangana. According to them, Hyderabad has emerged as a prominent technology hub in India, rivalling Bengaluru. These experts anticipate that India will now be mentioned alongside China in the global competition for dominance in AI.

During an interaction with international journalists in Boston, US, Ann LaFrance, vice-president of the International Institute of Communications, and an authority on cross-border data protection, e-privacy, and cybersecurity matters, pointed out that a substantial number of tech companies in the US are led by individuals of Indian origin, who have played a pivotal role in advancing technology in the country.

These media sessions were coordinated by the US Department of State’s Foreign Press Centre and Meridian International Centre as part of the International Reporting Tour (IRT) focusing on ‘Innovations in Tech Policy and Navigating Artificial Intelligence,’ spanning across Boston, Detroit, and Washington DC from 6 to 16 September, 2023.

Speaking of Hyderabad’s emergence as a technology epicentre in India, boasting prominent names like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, Ann LaFrance said, “It’s remarkable that India now hosts two thriving tech hubs, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The city’s vibrant talent pool and expanding infrastructure are poised to attract increased investments in AI, robotics, and machine learning.”

Regarding the recent data protection legislation introduced by the Indian government last month, LaFrance noted, “While some countries have already enacted similar Acts, others are in the process of doing so.”

She cited examples such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation of 2016, the Draft EU AI Act, and the AI Liability Act of 2021 (currently pending as a bill). Additionally, she referenced the Biden Administration’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights in 2022, the NIST AI Risk Management Framework of 2023, and comprehensive privacy laws in California and Colorado from 2019 to 2023, as evolving legal frameworks governing AI and data flow.