India calls for an inter-nation framework to regulate AI 

Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar

India is batting for an institutional framework between countries for regulating artificial intelligence and has called for a consensus on the dos and don'ts of AI among nations, as concerns mount over the disruptive power of this new technology.

“We must come to a consensus on the dos and don'ts of AI among democratic nations to ensure that we are not left playing catch-up in a rapidly evolving world of innovation,” Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said during a meeting with his Dutch counterpart Alexandra Van Huffelen. "We need to establish an institutional framework between countries that will define the guardrails for platforms, further enhancing accountability."

The minister is in the UK for the AI Safety Summit called by British Prime Minister Rishi Sounak to highlight as well as address the concerns arising out of AI's rapid growth and its potential to upend life and work as we know it.

This also comes at a time when India is preparing the Digital India Bill (DIB), the successor to the over 20 years old Information Techonology Act.

Moneycontrol has written how the DIB can bring in guardrails against AI algorithms, including empowering citizens to opt out from being subjected to an algorithm's decisions, albeit with riders.

During a meeting with Australia's industry and science minister Ed Husic, Chandrasekhar discussed strengthening the ongoing collaboration in areas of emerging and critical technologies, semiconductor ecosystem and cybersecurity.

In his discussions with Viscount Camrose, Minister of State for AI and Intellectual Property, UK, the two leaders delved into the potential risks associated with user harm stemming from AI and pledged to collaborate for tangible progress in this sector in the coming months.

The minister also extended invitations to all nations for the upcoming GPAI and India AI summits scheduled for December 2023.

On November 1, India along with 28 other nations agreed to the “The Bletchley Declaration”. The document underscores the importance of aligning AI systems with human intentions and encourages a more in-depth exploration of the full potential of AI.