PM Modi urges ‘extremely cautious’ approach on AI, underlines its ‘darker aspects’

“AI is having a significant impact on both present and future generations. We must proceed with extreme caution. I believe that the suggestions and ideas emerging from this summit will help us safeguard the world from the potential risks and challenges posed by the darker aspects of AI,” Modi said, adding that global security will be threatened if terrorists get hold of AI.

“AI has several positive impacts, but it has many negative impacts too which is a matter of concern. AI can become the biggest tool in the development of the 21st century. But it can also play the biggest role in destroying the 21st century… Deepfake is a challenge for the whole world… AI tools going into the hands of terrorists are also a big threat. If terrorist organisations get AI weapons, this will have a huge impact on global security… We need to plan how to tackle this,” he said.

AI has the potential to revolutionise India’s tech landscape. Speaking at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit. https://t.co/sHGXrBreLh

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2023

The Prime Minister’s call for caution comes weeks after he sought the media’s help in educating people regarding the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence and deepfake technology. He had called its capability of “fanning the flame of disaffection very rapidly” in a country as diverse and large as India “worrying”.

Further, stating that AI has the potential to revolutionise India’s tech landscape, Modi said the government will soon launch an AI mission, whose direction will be dependent on human and democratic values.

He added that India was working to transform the health sector using AI and that the technology can play a significant role in sustainable development.

Modi also stressed that trust on AI will rise if ethical, economic and social concerns are addressed.

India is negotiating with the 28 other member countries to arrive at a consensus on a declaration document on the proper use of AI, the guardrails for the technology and how it can be democratised.

India is a founding member of GPAI, having joined the multi-stakeholder initiative in June 2020. The initiative aims “to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.”