NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) tools falling in the hands of terrorists pose to the world as he called for a global framework for the ethical use of AI.
Speaking at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit, he said AI can become the biggest tool for development in the 21st century but it also equally be a force in destroying the 21st century.
“Besides the challenge of deepfakes, cyber security, and data theft, AI tools falling in the hands of terrorists pose a big threat. Global security will face a big threat if AI-laced weapons were to reach terrorist organisations. We have to deliberate on this issue and reach a concrete plan to stop the misuse of AI,” he said.
The Prime Minister said India had during its G20 presidency proposed creating a responsible, human-centric governance framework for AI.
“Just like we have agreements and protocols for various international issues, we have to create a global framework for the ethical use of AI. This will include a protocol for testing and deployment of high-risk and frontier AI tools,” he said.
India is committed to the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence, he said.
Modi said AI has the potential to revolutionise India’s tech landscape and the government will soon be launching an AI mission. AI has the potential to transform sectors including healthcare and it can play a big role in sustainable development, he said.
But “we have to tread very cautiously.” The direction of AI will be dependent on human values and democratic values, he said. Trust on AI will rise if ethical, economic and social concerns are addressed. Privacy concerns will get addressed if data is secured, he said.
“We have to complete the global framework within a set timeframe,” he said adding this was essential for the security and progress of the world and humanity. The Prime Minister said AI has to be made all-inclusive as only then it will yield more inclusive results.
