Governance and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The global focus on AI governance has shifted toward innovation and economic prosperity, with only a few countries implementing specific laws to regulate AI.

Current Global Landscape

• Countries with AI Regulations:
  • China, European Union, Canada, Korea, Peru, and the U.S. have introduced AI laws.
  • The U.S. has seen changes with President Trump revoking an Executive Order by former President Biden.
• Countries with Draft Bills:
  • U.K., Japan, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Pakistan are in the process of approving draft AI Bills.
• Strategy Documents:
  • About 85 countries and the African Union have published AI strategy documents focused on socio-economic development.

India's Approach to AI

India lacks an official National AI Strategy or specific AI regulation but focuses on the IndiaAI mission and its seven pillars to support AI development and adoption.

• NITI Aayog Document:
  • The 2018 'National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence' is comprehensive but not formally endorsed or budgeted by the government.
• IndiaAI Mission:
  • Aims to create an innovative, skilled, and safe AI ecosystem through planned initiatives.
  • An advisory group is developing governance framework recommendations.

Challenges and Concerns

• Lack of Comprehensive Vision:
  • India's AI initiatives lack a unified view of its vision, priorities, and accountability mechanisms.
• Risks of Unregulated AI:
  • Potential for discrimination, cybersecurity threats, privacy breaches, and unequal opportunities.
• Public Awareness and Discussion:
  • There is a lack of public awareness and discussion on AI's impact on everyday sectors such as banking, healthcare, and education.

AI Governance Models

• Data Protection Models:
  • India's DPDP Act, 2023, is similar to the EU's GDPR and China's Personal Information Protection Law.
  • The U.S. follows a decentralised, sector-specific approach.
• Approach for India:
  • India could adopt a centralised, cross-sectoral approach or a hybrid model for AI policy.

Recommendations for AI Policy

• Key Areas for AI Policy:
  • India's vision for AI, strategies for capacity building, responsible AI use, and priority sectors for socio-economic growth.
• Public Engagement:
  • Initiating public discussions on AI use and impact is crucial for informed policy-making.