India to Spearhead AI for Sustainable Agriculture at Global Summit

New Delhi, Dec 11: India is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the global discourse on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it hosts the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit from December 12-14, 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the summit, which will bring together stakeholders from governments, academia, industry, and civil society to deliberate on the opportunities and risks associated with AI.

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India's Vision for AI

India, a strong advocate for the democratization of technology, will present its vision for using AI for sustainable agriculture and propose a collaborative structure similar to the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to harness the power of AI. Minister of IT and Electronics, Ashwini Vaishnaw, emphasized the growing global recognition of both the transformative potential and the dangers of AI.

GPAI: A Multistakeholder Initiative

The GPAI, a multistakeholder initiative focused on AI, comprises 28 member countries and the European Union. Notably, China is not a part of GPAI. As a founding member in 2020 and the lead chair for GPAI in 2024, India is hosting the annual GPAI Summit in New Delhi.

Convergence of Views on AI

Vaishnaw highlighted the increasing convergence of global views on AI, with a shared understanding of its potential, benefits, and risks. He expressed India's aim to achieve a consensus-based declaration document at the summit, reflecting a harmonized way forward for AI.

Global Efforts to Govern AI

In recent months, there have been concerted global efforts to govern AI, as nations move swiftly to manage the risks of this promising technology. The Biden Administration in the US secured voluntary commitments from leading AI companies to manage risks and promote the safe, secure, and transparent development of AI technology. US President Joe Biden followed this up with an executive order in October, aiming to foster the safe and secure development of AI.

India's Approach to AI

Vaishnaw emphasized India's balanced approach to AI, seeking to strike a balance between innovation and regulation. He highlighted the importance of international forums in shaping global thinking on AI, citing examples like the Delhi Declaration at the G20 Summit.

GPAI Summit Highlights

The GPAI Summit will feature multiple sessions on diverse topics, including AI and global health, education and skilling, AI and data governance, and a machine learning workshop. Other attractions include a Research Symposium, AI Gamechangers Award, and India AI Expo. The summit is expected to draw the participation of over 50 GPAI experts and more than 150 speakers from across the world.

As India assumes a leadership role in the global AI discourse, the GPAI Summit provides a platform for shaping a responsible and inclusive future for AI. By fostering consensus-based approaches and promoting international collaboration, India aims to harness the transformative power of AI while mitigating its risks, ensuring that AI serves as a force for progress and societal well-being.