DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN INDIA

[Mr. M. GOVINDARAJAN]

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (‘AI’ for short) is a constellation of technologies that enable machines to ac with higher levels of intelligence and emulate the human capabilities of sense, comprehend and act. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the branch of computer science that emphasizes the development of intelligence machines, thinking and working like humans. For example, speech recognition, problem-solving, learning and planning.

Types of AI

There are four types of AI as detailed below-

• Reactive machines - means that they cannot form memories or use past experiences to influence present-made decisions; they can only react to currently existing situations – hence “reactive.” An existing form of a reactive machine is Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer created by IBM in the mid-1980
• Limited memory – it is comprised of machine learning models that derive knowledge from previously-learned information, stored data, or events. Unlike reactive machines, limited memory learns from the past by observing actions or data fed to them in order to build experiential knowledge.
• Theory of mind - constitutes theory of mind is decision-making ability equal to the extent of a human mind, but by machines.; and
• Self awareness - involves machines that have human-level consciousness. This form of AI is not currently in existence, but would be considered the most advanced form of artificial intelligence known to man. 

Classification of AI

Artificial intelligence can be classified into three different types of systems:

• Analytical;
• Human inspired;
• Humanized artificial intelligence.

Analytical AI has only characteristics consistent with cognitive intelligence; generating a cognitive representation of the world and using learning based on past experience to inform future decisions. Human-inspired AI has elements from cognitive and emotional intelligence; understanding human emotions, in addition to cognitive elements, and considering them in their decision making. Humanized AI shows characteristics of all types of competencies (i.e., cognitive, emotional, and social intelligence), is able to be self-conscious and is self-aware in interactions.

Drive growth

AI has the potential to overcome the physical limitations of capital and labor and open up new sources of value and growth. It has the potential to drive growth enabling-

• AI automation - the ability to automatic complex physical world tasks that require adaptability and agility across industries;
• Labor and capital augmentation – enabling humans to focus on parts of their role that add the most value, complementing human capabilities and improving capital efficiencies;
• Innovation diffusion i.e., propelling innovations as it diffuses through the economy.

Global development

The countries in the world are aware about the potential and economic and social benefits of developing and applying Artificial intelligence. China and UK estimate that 26% and 10% of their GDPs respectively in 2030 will be sourced from AI related activities and businesses. The countries began to frame policies in AI matters.

• US published its AI report in December 2016;
• France published the AI strategy in January 2017 followed by a detailed policy document in March 2018;
• Japan released a document in March 2017;
• China published AI strategy in July 2017;
• UK released its industrial strategy in November 2017
• India published its discussion paper on National strategy for AI during June 2018.

In the development of AI, UK has planned to build over 1000 government supported Ph.D. researchers by 2025 and set up a Turing fellowship to support an initial cohort of AI fellows. China has launched a five year university program to train at least 500 teachers and 5000 students working on AI technologies.

A study by EY and NASCCOM found that by 2022, around 46% of workforce will be engaged in entirely new jobs that do not exist today, or will be deployed in jobs that have radically changed skill sets.

Applications of AI

Internationally the application of AI is in the following areas-

• Health care;
• Education;
• Cyber security;
• Law;
• Finance;
• Information browsing
• Transport’
• Virtual assistants;
• E-commerce;
• Customer care;
• Energy;
• Business strategy.

Advantages

• Handling routine tasks - AI has the capability of handling routine and administrative tasks. This will enable humans to spend more time focusing on more challenging and complex tasks within their specific roles.
• Speedy outcomes - AI, together with cognitive processes, can assist in resolving outcomes at a faster pace, thus leading to greater productivity
• Eliminating mistakes Humans - by their very nature, are prone to making errors occasionally. Where AI is implemented correctly, mistakes will be avoided. This will be of great assistance in the field of data-capturing, where the accuracy of data will be assured.
• Bearing the brunt on behalf of humans - With the level of research increasing drastically, AI can minimize risk faced by humans in fields such as space exploration. This can provide useful assistance in various areas of research including medical diagnosis and oil exploration

Disadvantages

• Loss of jobs - Many low-skilled jobs will be at risk of termination through the implementation of AI. Examples of such jobs at risk include data-capturing positions; positions which involve repetitive tasks as well as taxi drivers where driverless cars become the norm.
• De-humanizing actions - Power borne by humans may be passed on to robots, thereby de-humanizing various actions, which could have catastrophic consequences. An example is where robots may theoretically kill humans without having to “pull a trigger” and remove all human control.
• Lack of value - judgment Humans is able to make certain value judgment calls during the occurrence of various scenarios. This is something that AI may fail to do, and it is uncertain how AI would be in a position to apply values, empathy and subjective judgment.

AI in India

India is the 13^th most advanced country the world in terms of the development of artificial intelligence technologies. India ranked third among G20 countries in 2016, measured by the number of AI-focused start-ups, which have increased since 2011 at a compound annual growth rate of 86%, higher than the global average. Over the past decade, India has flourished greatly in AI. In the last few years, numerous entrepreneurs have come up with AI-based services in applications ranging from farming to healthcare and education. The government undertook initiatives to adapt AI in its policies as well. It has partnered with several AI institutes to implement AI projects. It is these AI projects that have helped the country do so well in the field. Also, partnering with various reputed international AI institutes has helped the country develop an effective AI strategy.

With incredible advances made in data collection, processing and computation power, intelligent systems can now be deployed to take over a variety of tasks, enable connectivity and enhance productivity. As AI’s capabilities have dramatically expanded, so have its utility in a growing number of fields.

Big Indian companies such as Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio are setting up AI labs. Indian IT services giants such as Infosys and Wipro are making huge investments in AI. IT industry body Nasscom is setting up Centre of Excellence (COE) in AI in Karnataka and Telangana with companies like IBM, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Intel and AWS, on the lines of its successful 10,000 Startups program.

There has been a significant growth in interest levels around AI across all industry sectors in India. The increased AI interest has manifested itself in the following three ways:

• Industries have started working to skill their manpower to enable themselves to compete with other global players
• Educational institutions have started working on their curricula to include courses on machine learning and other relevant areas
• Individuals and professionals have started acquiring these skills and are comfortable investing in upgrading their own skills.

NITI Aayog

Niti Aayog issued a discussion paper on ‘National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence’ in June 2018. This strategy document is premised on the proposition that India, given its strengths and characteristics, has the potential to position itself among leaders on the global AI map – with a unique brand of ‘#AIforAll’.

Niti Aayog is to establish the National Program on AI, with a view to guiding the research and development in new and emerging technologies. NITI Aayog has partnered with several leading AI technology players to implement AI projects in critical areas such as agriculture and health.

NITI Aayog has decided to focus on five sectors that are envisioned to benefit the most from AI in solving societal needs:

• Healthcare: increased access and affordability of quality healthcare
• Agriculture: enhanced farmers’ income, increased farm productivity and reduction of wastage,
• Education: improved access and quality of education,
• Smart Cities and Infrastructure: efficient and connectivity for the burgeoning urban population, and
• Smart Mobility and Transportation: smarter and safer modes of transportation and better traffic and congestion problems.

In the discussion paper Niti Aayog analyzed the actions to be taken in various sectors by enhancing the educational skills in AI, proper funding for the uplift of AI in India. It also compares India with the developed countries in the world in AI. If the objectives of AI is achieved the rank of India in ‘ease of doing business’ will be below the rank of 50 among the countries in the world.:

Opportunity of AI in India 

The market size of AI for the years from 2016 to 2025 in India is given in the below table-

 Estimated size of AI market in India

 (Value in $ billion)

Sl.No.	Year	Market size
1	2016	3.2
2	2017	4.8
3	2018	7.3
4	2019	11.3
5	2020	17.3
6	2021	25.9
7	2022	37.9
8	2023	53.2
9	2024	70.9
10	2025	89.8

Source: Economic tims.indiatimes.com

It is expected that in the year 2025 the market size of AI in India is 8 times than that of the current year. AI has the potential to add 1 trillion to India’s economy in 2035. According to an estimate in a study by tech giant Accenture, AI has the potential to add $957 billion, or 15% of current gross value added, to India’s economy by 2035.

India’s services sector (call centers, BPOs, etc – roughly 18% of the Indian GDP) have a significant potential opportunity to cater to the coming demand for data cleaning and human-augmented AI training (data labeling, search engine training, content moderation, etc). There is some indication of grassroots level AI adoption today in India, yet the pace of innovation around establishing a comprehensive AI strategy for the future isn’t comparable to America or China today.

Most of the traction today in India seems to be in the form of AI pilot projects from the government in agriculture and healthcare and the emergence of AI startups in Indian software hubs like Bangalore and Hyderabad. India could become the hub for data cleaning around the world. The IT services industry could easily transition into human-trainers of AI, 

Strength

he following are considered as strengths of India in augmentation of AI-

• Strong existing IT sector
• IT schools produce many talented engineers, mathematicians, coders and statisticians
• Government pushes towards digitalization;
• Diversity in culture means diversity in data, as asset for developing stronger applications;
• India may be able to bypass the phase of upgrading legacy infrastructure as in many sectors no such infrastructures existed.

Key challenges

The challenges that come across in the development AI are-

• Lack of enabling data ecosystems;
• Low intensity of AI research;

• core research in fundamental technologies;
• transforming core research into market applications;

• inadequate availability of AI expertise, manpower and skilling opportunities;
• high resource cost and low awareness for adopting AI in business processes;
• unclear privacy, security and ethical regulations;
• unattractive intellectual property regime to incentivize research and adoption of AI.

These challenges are not exhaustive, if addressed in an expeditious manner through concerted collaborative efforts by relevant stakeholders, with government playing a leading role, could lead to fundamental building blocks that form the core to India’s march towards leadership in AI.

The barriers to AI development and deployment can effectively be addressed by adopting the marketplace model – one that enables market discovery of not only the price but also of different approaches that are best suited to achieve the desired results.

Conclusion

Achieving the goal of #AI for All requires long term and engaged institutional collaboration between all the stakeholders including the citizens. However, while playing the primary role in ensuring that this collaborative strategy succeeds, the government needs to be mindful of not crowding out the private sector. Role of the government thus needs to be one of a facilitator, an active promoter and wherever required, of an owner.

References:

1. Discussion Paper on National Strategy for artificial intelligence, NITI Ayog, June, 2018.
2. www.learn.g2.com
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence
4. https://emerj.com/ai-market-research/artificial-intelligence-in-india/