For artificial intelligence to flourish, governments need to think ahead about its responsible use
With technology blurring international boundaries, governments need to cooperate and collaborate to put mechanisms in place to manage the power of AI.
- The ability to crunch lots and lots of data
- at extremely high speeds
- at very low costs
- using of machines (computers)
AI brings new opportunities, possibilities
- Mapping of the entire human genome, can help us identify exactly what gene can cause what health issue. And we can actually fix the problem before we become sick.
- We could mine and bring back to earth, rare-earth metals from other asteroids in the outer space who are rich in these metals
- We can replicate body organs in the laboratory. Thereby ensuring that any damaged part of our body can be replaced, theoretically, guaranteeing life in perpetuity.
- We could use robots for high risk tasks (fire-fighting for example), thereby reducing risk to human lives
Challenges of an AI-world
- If an AI–powered vehicle (autonomous car) meets with an accident, who is to blame? The owner of the vehicle in whose name the car is registered, or the manufacturer of the vehicle who put the chassis and the body of the car together, or the provider (possibly based in another country) of the software powering the vehicle?
- Evolution of species on our planet has so far followed what Darwinian theory, of survival of the fittest. However, using AI based gene-mapping, humans now have the power to “create” the next species. What is one country decides to go ahead and start creating some new species, without fully understanding the consequences of this for our planet, thereby endangering lives of citizens of their own and other countries?
- Use of blockchain-based currency (cryptocurrency) could complete bypass traditional banking institutions, thereby escaping the governments tax net. And without tax revenues, it is difficult to maintain governance.
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions.[/caption]If there's one thing we can take away from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the power of information sharing, collaboration and pre-defined protocols. If governments across the world had collaborated to share information about the coronavirus, and had pre-approved protocols in place for an event like this (shutting borders or the sharing of intelligence on vaccine efforts), we wouldn't have seen the situation escalate to the one we're finding ourselves in.It is commendable that the government of India has shown the foresight and vision to bring conversation around artificial intelligence in the public domain. Irrespective of political affiliations, there is no denying that this government demonstrates a high level of alertness around the use of technology for bringing around social change – be it is the Jan-Dhan Yojna (to weed out middle men) or the Aadhaar card (to link financial transactions and minimize tax evasion). Responsible AI can have a positive impact in almost every facet of social change – education, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing or infrastructure.India, on account of its large IT industry, can be a leader, not only in providing AI solutions to the world, but also leading the global political dialogue around responsible AI.The author is the joint CEO of Mirum, India.
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