Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized the need for artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, transparency, and ethics at the launch of the book "AI on Trial" by Sujeet Kumar. He stressed that regulating AI is crucial to prevent its potential risks and ensure public safety, legal clarity, and ethical use.
Dhankhar warned that unregulated AI could lead to a digital dystopia where humans serve algorithms, rather than a humane society where technology serves people. He emphasized the need to strike a balance between regulating AI and fostering innovation, cautioning that overregulation can stifle entrepreneurship while underregulation can endanger public safety.
A national artificial intelligence authority or commission, independent but accountable, could serve as a think tank to design regulation as a scaffold, not a cage. This framework would need to be transparent and agile to keep pace with the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The implications of unregulated AI are far-reaching. AI may displace certain tasks, requiring significant investment in education, vocational training, and digital literacy, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable groups. India must assert its cyber sovereignty while aligning with global standards to ensure a unified approach to AI regulation.
Furthermore, AI challenges traditional legal concepts like liability and personhood, and its opacity undermines judicial trust and transparency. As AI continues to transform industries and societies, it is essential to prioritize regulation, transparency, and ethics to ensure that its benefits are realized while minimizing its risks.
