AI in the Indian Parliament

A debate on AI in Parliament could offer a much-needed platform to address rising concerns, take stock of what has happened till now, and set a clear direction for India’s approach

Issues of national importance have more often than not found their way to the Indian Parliament. It provides a national forum for Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss important issues and hold the executive accountable (through a reply by the concerned Minister at the end of the discussion). In the recent past, AI has emerged as one such topic that may merit a debate in Parliament. India released the National Strategy for AI in 2018, but the AI landscape has seen several developments since then. These include increasing capabilities and use of AI systems, the launch of the IndiaAI Mission, ongoing consultations on regulating AI, and India’s active participation in several international forums on AI. A discussion in the ongoing winter session of Parliament may be a good opportunity to take stock of what has happened, where we are right now, and the way forward.

Given AI’s increasing capabilities, it is being deployed in key sectors such as healthcare, law & justice, and banking. All of these have consequential impacts on our lives and we are seeing how the use of AI in such sectors can have adverse effects. Well-documented evidence shows how these AI systems have several issues such as being biased, inaccurate, and discriminatory. For instance, there have been reports about how AI systems used in US courts for risk assessment are biased against black prisoners. In India, deepfake circulation and deepfake scams impersonating not only users but prominent public figures have been on the rise. Taking note of such concerns, experts, and governments across the world have advocated for the safe and responsible design and use of AI. But safety does not merely mean addressing such immediate harm. Given the ubiquitous nature of AI in our lives, it can have large-scale impacts that can potentially be long-lasting. These include social, political, environmental, and economic effects. Therefore, our notion of AI safety should be broad-based and more inclusive, especially in the context of a diverse country like India. Parliament serves as one of the most representative platforms for capturing this diversity.

In India, an MP represents about 20 lakh people. A majority of these people may be at risk of harm posed by AI. As democratically elected representatives, these MPs are best placed to raise these concerns with the executive through a debate in Parliament. These discussions will address critical questions, including the role of AI in national security, its impact on labor markets, and its potential to drive social good.

This discussion will also be important in highlighting how different states are thinking about AI given how many of them are coming up with their respective AI policies and strategies. Some may be concerned about AI’s environmental impact, while others may talk about its effect on the future of work and education. These inputs will be valuable in helping the government frame AI regulations and policies that address these concerns. This will help India formulate an inclusive understanding of AI safety that addresses these challenges (both short and long-term). This debate should help the government formulate an India-centric understanding of AI safety rather than relying on definitions coming from the global north. Moreover, as India takes part in global dialogues on AI safety, we must ensure that we put forward this India-centric understanding of AI and safety. This will ensure that global standards and regulations are inclusive of India’s unique context and priorities.

There has been a global consensus on the need to build safe and responsible AI systems. Countries have taken different approaches to this. While the USA, with its Executive Order on AI, has delegated responsibility across federal agencies for managing AI risk, the EU has passed the AI Act that addresses AI risk across sectors. Another development has been the setting up of AI safety institutes by several countries such as the USA, UK, Japan, and Singapore. While India has been proactively participating in international dialogues on AI, it is still deliberating on what kind of approach it wants to take concerning regulating AI. The concerned Minister gives a response after a discussion in Parliament. This will allow the government to address the concerns raised by MPs regarding AI and offer clarity on India’s roadmap for its use and development. It will also clear all sorts of uncertainties and ambiguities that people may have about India’s policy direction in this field. Given the rapid developments and growing concerns, the ongoing

Parliamentary session is an opportune time for discussing the subject and for the government to outline India’s vision and plans for it.

You may contact the author Omir Kumar at omir@cerai.in.