The UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, organized the National Stakeholder Workshop on Safe, Trusted, and Ethical AI. This event, hosted at the prestigious Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, highlighted the importance of incorporating ethical dimensions into AI strategies. It particularly emphasized this need in light of the Indian government's approval of the IndiaAI Mission, which boasts a significant budget exceeding Rs 10,000 crore.
The workshop assembled a diverse array of stakeholders, including senior officials from Central Line Ministries, State Governments, NITI Aayog, and industry partners such as NASSCOM. This eclectic mix fostered robust dialogue on the multifaceted dimensions of AI ethics, with a keen focus on ensuring alignment with public welfare and international norms.
Eminent dignitaries lent their insights to the inaugural session, underscoring the significance of ethical AI adoption. Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, emphasized India’s commitment to a balanced approach in leveraging AI potential. "Getting UNESCO Member States to support the UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics of AI is a great example", he remarked. Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, echoed this sentiment, advocating for a framework that prioritizes safety and trust in AI deployment while fostering innovation.
With AI poised to significantly bolster India’s GDP, MeitY spearheads the IndiaAI Mission, embodying various strategic components geared toward technological self-reliance. Against this backdrop, the workshop’s agenda delved into AI fundamentals, ethical dimensions, and UNESCO’s pivotal role in shaping AI ethics globally.
Mr Tim Curtis, Director, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, emphasized the dual nature of AI, highlighting its potential to advance Sustainable Development Goals while acknowledging inherent ethical risks. "UNESCO aims to support the Indian government in integrating ethical considerations into national and state-level AI strategies", he affirmed. A notable panelist, Ms Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM, underscored the importance of ethical standards in both human and AI realms. "Ethics is about equity and inclusion", she asserted, advocating for a transparent and fair AI ecosystem.
Central to the workshop’s discourse was UNESCO’s 'Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence,' unanimously adopted by all 193 Member States. This landmark document enshrines principles of transparency, fairness, and human oversight in AI development and deployment. Collaborating with MeitY, UNESCO endeavors to translate these global principles into tangible policy actions across various domains, including data governance, gender equity, and social well-being.
