PM Modi: Bias-Free Data in AI | Paris Summit

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts:

1. PM Modi called for bias-free data at the AI Action Summit in Paris.
2. He emphasized efforts to develop open-source systems promoting trust and transparency.
3. Modi also highlighted the need to democratize technology.
4. He stated that quality data sets are crucial for developing trustworthy AI systems.
5. PM stressed addressing concerns related to cybersecurity, disinformation, and deep fakes.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth:

At the AI Action Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for efforts to develop open-source systems that promote trust and transparency, and emphasized the need to democratize technology. Co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister said that quality data sets that are free from biases are crucial in developing trustworthy and transparent AI systems. Highlighting the transformative potential of AI in reshaping society, economy, and security, the Prime Minister called for collective global efforts to establish inclusive technological governance and democratization of technology.

“AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture and so much more. It can help create a world in which the journey to Sustainable Development Goals becomes easier and faster. To do this, we must develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency,” he asserted. PM Modi stated, “We must build quality data sets, free from biases. We must democratise technology and create people-centric applications. We must address concerns related to cybersecurity, disinformation, and deep fakes. And, we must also ensure that technology is rooted in local ecosystems for it to be effective and useful.”

Data bias in AI occurs when the training data used to develop AI models is unrepresentative of real-world scenarios or contains systematic errors, leading to skewed, unfair, or inaccurate outcomes. This bias often stems from historical inequalities and human prejudices and often reinforces stereotypes. For example, an Artificial Intelligence image search may predominantly display pictures of white men when queried about high-paying professions. Similarly, a recent study found that AI models were less accurate in responding to health-related queries about the black population compared to their white counterparts. This highlights the importance of diverse and representative datasets.

PM Modi also put forth an example, explaining that if asked to generate an image of someone writing with their left hand, AI platforms are likely to depict a right-handed writer instead, as right-handed examples dominate the training data. “It shows that while the positive potential of AI is absolutely amazing, there are many biases that we need to think carefully about,” the Prime Minister said, as he reflected experts’ concerns that the biased results can be severe and far-reaching, when AI is used to make decisions or predictions that affect people. He further added, “AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed. And being adopted and deployed even faster. There is also a deep inter-dependence across borders. Therefore, there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards that uphold our shared values, address risks, and build trust.”

The AI Action Summit held in Paris on Wednesday brought together global leaders, tech experts, and policymakers, focused on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and the importance of ethical AI development. This collaborative environment will hopefully lead to practical solutions for mitigating data bias.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember:

PM Modi calls for bias-free data in AI at Paris Summit. Emphasized need to promote trust and transparency. Quality data sets are crucial to avoid data bias. Need to democratize technology.

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