Artificial Intelligence (AI) has constantly redefined the boundaries of innovation linked with human innovation while transforming industries across the globe. From healthcare to climate modelling to autonomous machines, AI has become the driving force for development. Several firms like Haptik (Mumbai), Mad Street Den (Chennai) and SigTuple (Bengaluru), have played a pivotal role in this AI based revolution especially in India. AI organizations not only shapes the global economy but influence how society engages with technology both sustainably and ethically. The “YuvAi initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building” which aims to bridge the AI talent gap in the country by empowering numerous students and young individuals to leverage open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) to address real-world challenges, is an excellent collaboration between Meta, the IT Ministry of India (MeitY) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) that has bolstered the AI revolution in India.
The rampant use of AI has paved the way for opportunities but has raised a red flag in terms of ethical usage. Detecting this bug, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of India is in the process of formulating a voluntary code of conduct for AI organizations in India that is set to be released in early next year. This comes as a next step to the IndiaAI Mission with an ‘AI for ALL’ vision to ensure AI tech is being used for the greater good, which is fuelled by a Rs. 10,000 crore funding by the government. The new code aims to serve as a guideline for AI firms on ethical approaches during the training, deployment and commercialization of AI models, LLMs in particular. This will ensure alleviated risks, algorithmic bias and unethical deployment across the AI driven sectors.
This step forward hopes to address several key concerns such as data integrity, misuse and ethical commercialization. Ethical AI begins with high-quality data that is unbiased. The code shall emphasize the maintenance of data sets with proper labelling and integrity. This will prevent biases during data collection and prevent skewed outcomes. Many AI models have the potential to generate misinformation and harmful content and the code will encourage organizations to identify futuristic scenarios proactively revolving around misuse. When it comes to transparency and accountability, firms will be guided by the code to disclose essential information about their AI models that would enable improved public and regulatory scrutiny, thus fostering trust in such AI organizations and their system. The code will also provide guidelines for ethical commercial transactions and deployment to ensure that AI models do not contribute to inequality or hinder societal well-being.
The ministry is working to rope in several stakeholders and actively engage with such companies, industry leaders and tech developers to shape an efficient and balanced framework. In March 2024, the ministry issued guidelines for safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process. Though these guidelines mandated seeking permission from the government before deploying AI systems to the public that were in their beta phase or were unreliable, the guideline was withdrawn later on. Recently, the IT ministry also collaborated with UNESCO to hold a stakeholder consultation on safety and ethics in AI, which highlights India’s initiative to align its policies with other global practices while promoting stakeholder inclusion. Taking inspiration from the G7 AI Process Code of Conduct which consists of 11 guiding principles for AI firms and systems, India is set to create its own policy that is unique and safeguards democratic values. The voluntary nature of these guidelines depicts the government’s balanced approach instead of a rigid one that will provide a chance for firms to willingly embrace and implement this code.
While the lack of concrete legislation on AI firms and models in India is alarming, MeiTy’s new initiative that aligns with other global organizations and India’s AI mission is truly commendable in terms of development and implementation of necessary change. By addressing the necessary concerns, this new code will safeguard not only the public but will mitigate any kind of potential risks for stakeholders. The code that is set to be out in early 2025 must be coupled with refining, implementation and voluntary adoption by AI organizations to ensure that the guidelines are a success. In the long run, the Ministry must continue assessing the effectiveness of this voluntary code but must also turn towards adopting a more regulatory framework that is stringent and formal in nature. As AI continues to influence the lives of every individual, India’s step towards balancing innovation and ethics sets a solid precedent that will have a large impact on both the technological industry and the general society at large. Intensive monitoring of emerging technological metamorphosis and its alignment with ethics and responsibility is the way forward.
Authors: Seema Meena, Manasvi Shah & Simran Jayarao