NITI Aayog Releases Paper For India's Strategy On AI, Identifies 5 Core Areas

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) unveiled a discussion paper which addresses the national strategy on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in India. Here, the government think tank identified five sectors to focus its efforts towards implementation of AI to serve societal needs. The five sectors are:

• 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
• Smart Mobility and Transportation: smarter and safer modes of transportation and better traffic and congestion problems

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said in the paper, "The purpose of this paper is to lay the groundwork for evolving the National Strategy for AI. While this paper includes several recommendations, some of which may be deemed disruptive, specifics (for example, the execution and financial implications) have been consciously avoided, since wider consultations and consensus building is needed to refine these recommendations. This document is intended to serve as an 'essential pre-read' in building a truly transformative approach in pursuit of #AIforAll."

India embarks on a journey to lead the emerging world in AI research & application. #AIforAllwill enhance human capabilities to address challenges of access, affordability, shortage & inconsistency of skilled expertise. Read more: https://t.co/1cIsuMu2ep pic.twitter.com/snEt9jUyEE

— NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) June 4, 2018

The paper gives many disruptive suggestion including one to utilize market place models for data, annotation, and deployable solutions in AI. We need to democratise access to and development of this technology. #AIforAll https://t.co/VJYypwMtdr

— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) June 4, 2018

The paper also proposed a two-tiered structure to address India’s AI research aspirations:

1. Centre of Research Excellence (CORE) focused on developing a better understanding of existing core research and pushing technology frontiers through creation of new knowledge
2. International Centers of Transformational AI (ICTAI) with a mandate of developing and deploying application-based research. Private sector collaboration is envisioned to be a key aspect of ICTAIs.

A couple of months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the NITI Aayog to acquaint all the ministries with high-end technologies. He had also asked the Indian think tank to describe how AI would be beneficial to address the country’s socio-economic problems.