PROPOSAL FOR AI REGULATION

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s economic advisory council (PM-EAC), has proposed a comprehensive framework for regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India.

EXPLANATION:

  • The framework aims to address the challenges posed by the non-linear and unpredictable nature of AI, advocating for specialized regulatory mechanisms to ensure accountability, transparency, and ethical development of AI technologies.

Key Elements of the Proposed Framework

  • Complex Adaptive System (CAS) Thinking:
    • The framework draws inspiration from CAS principles, emphasizing the need for adaptive regulations capable of responding to the dynamic nature of AI systems.
    • It encompasses five key principles:
      • Establishing guardrails and partitions to limit undesirable AI behavior.
      • Mandating manual overrides and authorization chokepoints for human intervention in critical scenarios.
      • Open licensing of core algorithms and continuous monitoring for transparency and accountability.
      • Implementation of incident reporting protocols to document system aberrations and ensure accountability.
      • Predefined liability protocols to hold entities accountable for AI-related malfunctions or unintended outcomes.
    • Global Regulatory Landscape:
      • The proposal acknowledges the diverse regulatory approaches adopted by different countries, ranging from hands-off or self-regulatory models to heavily state-regulated frameworks.
      • It underscores the need for India to develop a specialized AI regulator with a broad mandate to navigate the complexities of AI governance effectively.
    • Alignment with International Standards:
      • The framework aligns with global efforts to establish AI trust and safety frameworks, as evidenced by India’s participation in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit.
      • It emphasizes the importance of incorporating globally accepted principles of trustworthy AI to enhance India’s competitiveness and facilitate collaboration with other nations.

Implications and Challenges

  • Balancing Innovation and Regulation:
    • The proposed framework aims to strike a delicate balance between fostering AI innovation and ensuring responsible and ethical AI development.
    • It acknowledges the need for regulatory oversight to mitigate potential risks associated with AI technologies while fostering a conducive environment for innovation.
  • Complex Regulatory Landscape:
    • The formulation of AI regulation in India entails navigating a complex regulatory landscape, encompassing diverse stakeholders and regulatory considerations.
    • The framework emphasizes the importance of aligning regulatory efforts with global standards to facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing while enhancing India’s leadership in responsible AI development.

Future Directions and Policy Implications

  • Drafting AI Regulation:
    • The framework provides valuable insights for the formulation of AI regulation in India, emphasizing the need for comprehensive regulatory mechanisms to address the multifaceted challenges posed by AI technologies.
    • It underscores the importance of proactive regulatory interventions to ensure accountability, transparency, and ethical AI development.
  • Digital India Act (DIA) and Inter-Ministerial Collaboration:
    • AI regulation is expected to be a crucial component of the upcoming Digital India Act (DIA), which will undergo public consultation post-general elections.
    • The framework advocates for inter-ministerial collaboration and the establishment of a dedicated regulatory body to supervise and regulate AI effectively.
  • India AI Mission and Capacity Building:
    • India’s approval of the India AI Mission underscores its commitment to building AI capacities and fostering innovation in the country.
    • The framework emphasizes the need for robust regulatory mechanisms to complement capacity-building initiatives and ensure responsible AI deployment across diverse sectors.

Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM):

  • It is an independent body constituted to give advice on economic and related issues to the Government of India, specifically to the Prime Minister.
  • It was set up for the first time in September 2017 with a term of two years.
  • EAC-PM is headed by a Chairperson and consists of eminent economists as members.
  • It is supported in its functions by a team of officials and administrators.
  • There is no fixed definition of the exact number of members and staff of the EAC-PM.
  • It is common for the Council to be reconstituted time and again with different organizational structures headed by various economists who are of recognized international eminence.
  • For administrative, logistic, planning, and budgeting purposes, the NITI Aayog serves as the nodal agency for the EAC-PM.

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/industry/pmeac-member-sanjeev-sanyal-proposes-a-cas-based-framework-to-regulate-ai/amp-11712055604080.html

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