India AI programme set for launch, emphasises real-world applications

The government is set to launch the India AI programme, as announced by Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Speaking at the Nasscom Future Forge event 2023, Chandrasekhar noted that the programme will be well-funded and strategically designed, with a focus on practical applications in agriculture, security, and governance.

Sources suggest a potential launch date of December 11, 2023 followed by a three-day global summit on AI in New Delhi starting from December 12, 2023. This Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) summit will delve into crucial aspects of AI, including responsible AI, data governance, the future of work, and innovation and commercialization.

Chandrasekhar expressed hopes that the New Delhi Declaration will build on the foundations laid by the Bletchley Declaration, fostering growth, expansion, innovation, investment, safety, and trust in the field of AI. The minister recently participated in the AI Safety Summit 2023 held in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, UK, where 28 nations, including the US and China, came together. The summit resulted in the agreement known as ‘The Bletchley Declaration,’ highlighting the significance of aligning AI systems with human intentions and advocating for a deeper exploration of AI’s full potential.