Stakeholder Consultation on Safety and Ethics in AI Held in New Delhi
The UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Ikigai Law, organized a stakeholder consultation on Safety and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at UNESCO House, New Delhi, on November 14, 2024. This event marked the launch of five consultations under the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), aiming to craft a comprehensive, India-specific AI policy report.
Focus on Ethical AI Governance
The initiative is designed to identify strengths and growth opportunities within India’s AI ecosystem. It also provides actionable insights for adopting AI responsibly and ethically across sectors. The consultations emphasize transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness, aligning with UNESCO’s Global Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
The AI RAM serves as a diagnostic tool for member states to enhance their AI regulatory and institutional capacities. By fostering safety and trust, the initiative supports India’s goal of achieving a holistic AI ecosystem that benefits all.
Advancing Responsible AI in India
This consultation comes as India embarks on the ambitious INDIAai Mission, backed by ₹10,000 crore in funding. A key pillar of the mission, Safe and Trusted AI, focuses on safety, accountability, and ethical practices in AI development. The mission promotes indigenous frameworks, governance tools, and self-assessment guidelines, empowering innovators and democratizing AI benefits across sectors.
Event Highlights
The consultation featured expert talks, discussions, and breakout sessions, providing insights into responsible AI adoption.
Welcome and Keynote Speeches
- Mr. Tim Curtis, Director of UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, emphasized the alignment between UNESCO’s ethical AI initiatives and the INDIAai Mission, advocating for ethical AI development through actionable policies.
- Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, stressed the need for transparency, data privacy, and security, linking responsible AI governance to global standards and India’s DPDP Act.
Government’s Commitment to Responsible AI
- Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary of MeitY, highlighted India’s potential to lead ethical AI practices, especially in the Global South. He focused on the IndiaAI Mission’s seven pillars, including compute capacity, data access, and ethical governance.
Project Presentations
- AI Ethical Certification Project: Presented by Mr. Avinash Agrawal, this project develops frameworks to ensure fairness in AI models.
- Privacy Enhancing Strategy Project: Dr. Ranjitha Prasad showcased privacy-preserving machine learning standards for enhancing AI robustness.
Breakout Sessions and Roadmap Development
Participants engaged in discussions on governance, infrastructure, workforce readiness, and sectoral AI adoption. Their inputs aim to shape India’s AI policy roadmap, addressing gaps and prioritizing ethical AI practices.
The Path Ahead
UNESCO and MeitY are dedicated to translating ethical AI principles into actionable policies suited to India’s unique needs. The AI RAM sessions will continue across the country, fostering collaboration among stakeholders to build an inclusive, responsible, and sustainable AI governance model.
For further information, contact:
- Ms. Eunsong Kim, Chief of Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, at e.kim@unesco.org
- Sindhuja Khajuria, Communications and PR Officer, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, at s.khajuria@unesco.org
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