IT Act Amendments: India prepares to regulate AI and Generative AI, expert insights
Indian tech aficionados are utilizing AI to its fullest extent and in an unregulated manner, thus having a suitable framework is essential.
- In the burgeoning technology landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (Gen AI) have emerged as transformative forces, reshaping the way businesses operate and individuals interact with information.
- As per Statista data of 2023, the AI market in India has surged to an impressive $4.1 billion, reflecting the growing prominence of the AI technologies.
- This shift is not only a testament to technological advancements but also highlights the increasing reliance on AI-driven solutions for enhancing productivity and serving as information aggregators.
- According to data from Nasscom, India currently boasts approximately 416,000 skilled professionals in the field of AI, at such scenario a regulated infrastructure for AI is imperative.
- In a bid to strengthen the landscape with AI, the Indian government is gearing up to implement significant amendments to the Information Technology (IT) Act of 2021.
- This initiative aims to regulate the burgeoning domain of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (Gen AI), setting a new precedent for technological integrity and ethical AI practices.
- Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar earlier in December 2023 described the government’s round-the-clock efforts to provide the infrastructure required for cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), which will help India’s tech sector reach a trillion dollars by 2026.
- The updated regulations, which will not be prejudiced in any way, will control the platforms that use language models to teach their machines.
- According to a media report, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will shortly notice the adjustment, which will prohibit the use of AI algorithms or language models that are biased by nature or that are trained on datasets that provide biased results.
- The entire world is aiming to understand the potential of AI technology, and some have drafted framework around the technology for safer and better use of it.
- Citing example- In 2023, US senators were addressing AI challenges through hearings and discussions, considering potential impacts on employees, workforce productivity, and hiring processes.
- Initiatives include proposing AI regulations, licensing AI systems, establishing a federal AI agency, and implementing third-party testing and auditing regimes were raised.
- Experts were consulted on AI regulation, with considerations ranging from licensing regimes to legal limits on specific uses.
- Notably, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has advocated for federal oversight, leading to the introduction of bills by Senators Michael Bennet, Josh Hawley, and Richard Blumenthal.
- In October, the US President Joe Biden’s Administration released the AI Bill of Rights Blueprint. Following suit, the AI Risk Management Framework was released in January by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- “To advance President Biden’s vision, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has identified five principles that should guide the design, use, and deployment of automated systems to protect the American public in the age of artificial intelligence. The Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights is a guide for a society that protects all people from these threats—and uses technologies in ways that reinforce our highest values,” reads the White House blog.
- Not just US, nations like- China, Europe Union, Britain, Japan, Italy, Australia, France, Spain, Israel, United Nations, Canada, Ireland, Brazil, UAE have regulated the AI technology.
- The United Nations and the European Union are actively involved in AI regulation discussions, the evolving landscape underscores the need for comprehensive regulatory frameworks.
- Drawing parallels, India should heed this global momentum and institute robust AI regulations to address potential challenges and ensure ethical AI development within its borders.
- As existing Indian IT Act does not include frameworks around AI therefore, amendment of India’s IT Act signifies a pivotal shift towards a more secure and equitable digital ecosystem, both nationally and internationally.
