Mr Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CIAO) | 2022
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Introduction
But only some innovations are as impactful as they seem. Some, like cryptocurrency, face a lot of doubt, debate, and instability. However, if there is one technological change that most people side with, it is artificial intelligence. And it is here to stay.
Since the introduction of ChatGPT, a new age of AI models has begun. AI has proved that it can perform things that were previously considered impossible, like generating realistic text and graphics, playing games, and solving complex issues. With such a widespread impact and potential, AI is one market force that will completely spread its fangs in all sectors of our lives.
Some innovations have revolutionised the world in ways no one could have imagined. From the wheel to the printing press to the steam engine, technological innovations have ignited revolutions and transformed how we see the world today.
But only some innovations are as impactful as they seem. Some, like cryptocurrency, face a lot of doubt, debate, and instability. However, if there is one technological change that most people side with, it is artificial intelligence. And it is here to stay.
Since the introduction of ChatGPT, a new age of AI models has begun. AI has proved that it can perform things that were previously considered impossible, like generating realistic text and graphics, playing games, and solving complex issues. With such a widespread impact and potential, AI is one market force that will completely spread its fangs in all sectors of our lives.
When did AI become a household name?
. The reaction to ChatGPT was mixed. While some people found the idea intriguing, others were concerned about issues like data privacy and manipulation of opinions. With the growing popularity of ChatGPT, many businesses and developers started investing in the IT sector to utilise it to the maximum. From Microsoft including ChatGPT to its Azure OpenAI Service to Emeritus using ChatGPT to provide personalised tutorial content to students, ChatGPT was changing various sectors, including healthcare, education, finance, etc.
As a country of startups and entrepreneurship, India has accepted AI as a powerful force behind development and innovation. As per a World Economic Forum report, the AI expenditure in India is expected to expand and reach $11.78 billion by 2025. India is also home to 3,000+ AI, big chain and blockchain startups.
How has AI impacted different sectors?
AI has enabled startups to create innovative solutions and products for various domains and industries, such as healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and logistics. AI has been used to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services, such as diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and management of diseases. For instance, Qure.ai, founded in 2016, is an AI-based healthcare startup that uses deep learning to analyse medical images, such as chest X-rays and CT scans, and detect abnormalities like tuberculosis, lung cancer, and brain injuries.
NITI Aayog has collaborated with Microsoft and Forus Health to introduce a solution for early diabetic retinopathy identification. Forus Health created 3Nethra, a portable device that can check for common eye conditions. Applying Microsoft’s retinal imaging technology to this gadget to incorporate AI capabilities, operators of 3Nethra devices can get AI-powered insights through APIs, even while they are operating at remote eye camps with poor or zero cloud access. The resulting technological solution tackles picture capture quality concerns and the need for systems checks that evaluate the image’s utility.
India, an agricultural economy, can benefit from the potential of AI in the agriculture sector. The agricultural sector has developed over time but it still faces many drawbacks. It is still dependent on unpredictable variables and has a low supply chain.
As per a report, around 50 Indian ‘AgTech’ startups had raised 313 million $ in 2016.
Intello Labs, a startup in this field, uses computer vision and machine learning to assess the quality of the crops and predict the yield. On the other hand, Aibono, another AI-based startup, uses agri data science and AI to improve farm yield. It is working on a seed-to-plate model through which consumers can know from where the fruits or vegetables have been sourced. Similarly, Trithi Robotics has been a blessing for the farmers as it utilised drone technology to provide the farms with an overview of their soil and its analysis.
In the education sector, AI has helped supplement pedagogy and improve the learning environment. Using deep learning technology, Content Technologies Inc. has been working on making personalised educational content by analysing the resource material aiming to cater to every student’s needs. Azure Machine Learning by Microsoft has helped the government identify trends in the educational sector based on parameters like age, gender, economic background, etc.
AI has also been a boon for the finance sector as it has helped detect anomalous behaviour and process digital data. Fi has an AI-powered analyser that can provide insights to individuals to track their expenditures and savings. Softwares are now making decisions regarding loans after considering varied data about a borrower, rather than just a mere credit score and a background check. AI can also help monitor transactions and analyse risk assessment and creditworthiness.
Has AI been a boon or bane for startups?
AI as a tool if harnessed properly can greatly aid businesses and start-ups. It can help them to increase their efficiency and productivity by automating routine and repetitive tasks, eventually helping in saving time and resources. Jasper uses AI technology to create high-quality content for businesses and start-ups that not only save their time but also cut down on the cost incurred if a human had to do that job. Moreover, AI can also aid in optimising operational costs through faster work without manual labour. This can be especially utilised by startups as start-ups usually face financial constraints in the initial years. In addition, AI can help curate products and content that cater to the audience’s preferences and needs. It can help in analysing the feedback and drawing insights from them. KLaunch’s KBot Lightning offers a platform for streamlining the communication between the customers and the stakeholders by providing real-time analytics and an engaging interface.
At the same time, AI also poses some challenges for startups as AI having an edge over human labour in certain areas can potentially replace human workers in certain roles and might generate ethical and social concerns. As per an OpenAI study, 80% of the US jobs would be potentially affected by AI and the same would be seen in other developed countries. Sectors like high finance, insurance, data processing, publishing, and scientists are the ones that would be affected the most by AI. As per Goldman Sachs, 300 million people could lose their jobs due to AI.
Even the ‘Godfather of AI’, Geoffrey Hinton and people like Elon Musk have talked about the wide scale threats posed by AI to humanity. AI can be a dangerous weapon for manipulating opinion and might be used for spreading misinformation. The bias of humans is transferred to AI systems that transcend gender and race. Moreover, investing in AI for startups requires resources and expertise which is very expensive and might not be accessible for everyone.
What are the Government Initiatives and Policies for AI in India?
MeitY has collaborated with several organisations for FutureSkills Prime which is a framework for upskilling professionals with AI. Under the Natural Languages Translation Mission, MeitY along with the Ministry of Electronics (MoE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has created a translation platform with the help of AI. The Software Technology Parks of India are aiding in developing AI technology and its research in India. In a similar vein, the AI Committee of the Supreme Court of India has launched the Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court’s Efficiency (SUPACE) that provides case briefs, case chronology and file previews, thereby making the judicial process smoother and more efficient.
Has AI been transforming individual lives too?
The apps and services that are being developed are making work easier and cheaper. Instead of working from scratch, developers are using GPT to provide a blueprint to their ideas and then customise it as per their needs. DALL-E system works on a similar model and generates original images based on a prompt as given by the user. GPT-3 is used by Jasper.ai to create content timelessly as per the given instructions. Over 300 applications are using GPT-3 in their services. Even Duolingo, a popular language learning app is using GPT-3 to make the learning environment more responsive. Microsoft has integrated GPT-3 in its search engine through the Bing AI app.
Roadblocks like constraints of time, resources, skills, or opportunities are all being overcome by the use of AI. In today’s fast-paced world, a tool like AI is indispensable with Alexa and Cortana handling our whole day.
What are the future trends and opportunities for AI in India?
The growth of AI in India requires policies and schemes to make the technology available and accessible to everyone, especially women, minority communities and people in rural areas. At the same time, it is required that there are programmes in place that help upskill people in the information technology sector so that they can tap into the potential of AI. With AI, issues like ethics, privacy and data regulation also need to be tackled first so that India can use AI for a more inclusive and sustainable development.