Won’t regulate AI, will focus on guardrails to address AI user harm: MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said on Monday that the Indian government has no plans to regulate the use cases of artificial intelligence (AI) and instead it will prioritize regulating user harm caused by AI while implementing robust guardrails.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already approved nearly Rs 1,000 crore for IndiaAI, a comprehensive program centred around three Centres of Excellence, the India Datasets program, the DI Bhashini platform, and an ecosystem comprising government, academia, startups, and industry partnerships.

"There is, of course, the debate on regulation of AI. Our approach is that we will not regulate use cases, rather adopt the approach of regulating user harm from AI and create guardrails that will create the obligation of safe use on all AI platforms," Chandrasekhar stressed.

It's an approach that's part of the Digital India Act that's been drafted, said the minister, adding that there is a whole section on emerging Technologies that will cover AI and Web3 etc.

"AI for India is an important part of our digital economy growth strategy and digital government strategy. PM Modi has said 'Make AI in India' and 'Make AI work for India'. AI will be a kinetic enabler of our digital economy and the government sees it that way," the minister stressed.

In recent years, innovation pace has increased and disruptive technologies are the new normal.

"The government is steadfast in creating policies and enabling the environment to let our innovators lead the charge and succeed in every one of these new areas, from AI to metaverse to strategic deep tech,” Chandrasekhar said.

The IndiaAI program aims to develop world-class platforms, solutions, and tools that not only address local challenges but also have global relevance. The primary goal is to build commercially deployable AI platforms and solutions through a vibrant startup ecosystem in the country.

"We aim to build commercially deployable AI platforms and solutions, developed by a vibrant startup ecosystem in the country which is our primary goal," he noted.

"We are building Indianised AI tools. Further improving governance via the India Stack has a key goal for us," said Chandrasekhar.

India aspires to become a global AI powerhouse by not only integrating foreign chatbots but also by developing next-generation AI-based innovations to empower billions of citizens.

With inputs from agencies

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