India to work towards consensus-based 'declaration document' on AI: Govt

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the world's view on AI is almost converging, with global recognition and awareness around the dangers as well as transformative potential of this new tech

The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit to be inaugurated by Prime Minister on Tuesday will see intense deliberations on this new technology and work towards consensus-based 'declaration document' on approach to AI opportunities and risk mitigation, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday.

India -- which has always championed democratisation of technology for masses -- will moot use of AI for sustainable agriculture as well as a DPI-like collaborative structure for harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, Vaishnaw, who is the Minister of IT and Electronics, said.

DPI stands for digital public infrastructure like UPI, Aadhaar and ONDC.

Vaishnaw further said that the world's view on AI is almost converging, with global recognition and awareness around the dangers as well as transformative potential of this new technology.

The GPAI -- a multistakeholder initiative focused on nuances of AI -- has 28 member countries and the European Union (EU).

As one of the founding members of GPAI in 2020, and the lead chair for GPAI in 2024, India is hosting the annual GPAI Summit in New Delhi from December 12-14, 2023.

The discussions will be around responsible AI, and the event will see stakeholders brainstorming on tapping opportunities and benefits of AI.

"The world is looking up to India. Today every major country wants to join hands with India for co-creation and development of technology," Vaishnaw told reporters.

The minister said that GPAI deliberations are expected to culminate into a declaration document, arrived at with "consensus".

"We are negotiating a declaration document which we hope that we will be able to arrive at some consensus," he said.

Today the world's thinking on AI is converging, he said, adding people understand its potential and benefits, as well as its dangers.

"And the entire world wants to put certain guardrails. So there is more or less convergence of how AI should be treated, going forward," he said, adding India will be aiming for a statement.

GPAI will look to bring together a common thinking on AI.

"International forums typically strive to come up with document or policy direction which then becomes the way people start thinking," Vaishnaw said citing examples like Delhi Declaration at G20 Summit.

While some nations may prefer to opt for hard regulations, India's approach has been one of balancing innovation and regulation.

GPAI will focus on global approach to AI.