India opts against AI regulation

India does not plan to regulate the growth of AI in the South Asian market, identifying the sector as an “important and strategic” area for the nation. This position comes at a time when many voices are calling for a closer look at the rapidly changing technology.

The Department of Electronics and Computing said in a lengthy written response on Wednesday that it had assessed the ethical concerns and risks of bias and discrimination associated with AI. The ministry said it was implementing the necessary policies and infrastructure measures to cultivate a robust AI sector in the country, but had no plans to introduce legislation to regulate its growth.

The expansion of AI will have a “kinetic effect” on entrepreneurship and business development in India, the ministry said. “AI is a kinetic enabler of the digital economy and the innovation ecosystem. The government is harnessing the potential of AI to deliver personalized and interactive citizen-centric services through digital public platforms. »

Despite growing interest in artificial intelligence in the US and many developed markets, India has seen a limited number of startups enter the field. A strategic initiative from New Delhi could potentially encourage talented people to explore opportunities.

India’s move, which impacts the world’s second-largest internet market, comes as tech entrepreneurs and academics increasingly call for government intervention in AI. Last week, more than 1,100 signatories, including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, signed an open letter urging “all AI labs to immediately suspend for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT- 4”.

Italy recently imposed a temporary ban on OpenAI’s ChatGPT over concerns that it violates the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). While some U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns about AI, few are actively seeking regulation, The New York Times reported last month.