India to Establish AI Oversight Board, Requires Bureaucrat Training:

The Indian government is stepping up its supervision of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in governance by instituting compulsory AI training for bureaucrats and suggesting a governance board to oversee the use of AI in the government.

The government has suggested setting up an AI governance board for assessing, endorsing, and supervising the applications of AI technology in the public sector with the newly introduced AI Competency Framework for Public Officials which is a subset of the larger IndiaAI Mission. The board must ensure that the application of AI technology serves ethical and regulatory standards.

“Set up a distinct AI Governance Board That Shall Supervise And Oversee The Establishment Of AI Applications,” the framework notes.

The framework notes that government employees need to appreciate critically the issues of ethical AI and security in the deployment of AI technologies.

"They will ensure adherence to legal and ethical guidelines domestically and internationally, and assist in the governance and review of AI applications during its various phases," the framework explains.

Aside from meeting the legal requirements, the board is anticipated to provide assurance that the AI applications are responsible and well designed.

A debate fueled controversy last year. In an advisory, the government asked artificial intelligence platforms to get permission before launching AI driven products in the country. The backlash from the industry stemmed from it being deemed 'regressive' and ‘stifling innovation’ leading to the advisory being rolled back.

Alongside Reforming Governance measures, the framework mandates including assessment of AI deployment risks, including bias and the unforeseen consequences of its use.

Complete stransformation from the old governance paradigm, which was absolutely soley focused on technological advancement, has taken place and now adoption of AI systems is to be regulated on the basis of risk, social justice, and the positive or negative impact that it would result into.

Concerns regarding systems of bias AI is a central objective for one of the framework concerning marginalised communities.

The document states: “Marginalised groups are frequently either poorly represented or completely omitted from the training data. This often leads to intricate decisions that can have dire implications.”

Relying on Artificial Intelligence without ethics resulted in irresponsible aids in automating decision making. The framework mandates benchmarking of AI models against baseline datasets incorporating independent audits in order to validate the ethical as well as performance parameters set within governing AI systems.

The AI training system is organized into three competency levels, which corresponds with the hierarchy of responsibility. Level 1 consists of the policymakers responsible for developing AI governance frameworks. Level 2 consists of managers or mid-level officials tasked with coordinating AI program activities. Level 3 consists of operational teams who execute automated business processes on a daily basis.

To enforce the ethical use of AI, the proposed framework mandates proper model documentation, including how the algorithm was constructed and what data was used. It also recommends implementing human control systems in instances where AI interfaces with public services or basic rights. \n\nWhile AI is projected to contribute $450 to $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, the government is encouraging the adoption of AI technology as well as attempting to structure reforms that improve responsibility, transparency, and equity.