SME Times News Bureau | 18 Jun, 2018
A
recent ASSOCHAM-PwC joint study has suggested the Government to drive
cross-border collaboration with countries leading in AI (artificial
intelligence) research whereby government departments like the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Department of Science and
Technology (DST) may take the lead in developing such relationships.
It
suggested that forming cooperative relationships with some of the
frontrunners—such as Japan, the UK (United Kingdom), Germany,
Singapore, Israel and China—to develop solutions that tackle social
and economic challenges can aid and accelerate strategy formulation
in AI, ML (machine learning) and other new-age technologies in India.
"Exchanging
best practices and learnings from prior initiatives is one way of
strengthening cooperation," noted the study titled "Advance
artificial intelligence for growth: Leveraging AI & robotics for
India's economic transformation," jointly conducted by The
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and
multinational professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers
(PwC).
The
study also suggested that policy planning in AI must be aimed at
creating an ecosystem that is supportive of research, innovation and
commercialisation of applications.
"While
academia and the private sector focus their research activities on
finding applications with diverse usage, the public sector, with its
various schemes (Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, etc.),
could identify areas where specific applications of AI and robotics
can be utilised to increase reach, effectiveness and efficiency, thus
giving direction to existing innovation across different fields."
Setting
up digital data banks and exchanges to stream-in information from
across industries together with revision of secondary school and
university curricula to inculcate interest in AI will help create
enabling environment for AI-led growth.
Another
enabling factor for AI growth would be setting up centres of
excellence supporting inter-disciplinary research across law,
medicine, engineering, management and the social sciences.
Highlighting
the need for a practical and pragmatic approach towards use of AI,
the study said, “Government could act as a catalyst in furthering
growth by opening training centres focused on equipping young
individuals with high-end skills in the field of analytics and ML,
which, in turn, could be tied in with inviting data-driven global
enterprises to set up their centres of excellence in India.”
It
added that this could be an extension of the Digital India and
National Skill Development initiatives to meet the growing demand of
analytical and AI competency, which would be beneficial for country's
human capital.
With
a view to ensure that innovation is directed towards effective
pursuits and does not clash with human interests, collaborative
efforts and ongoing dialogue between the three pillars of AI-based
research—academia, the public sector and private sector—should be
encouraged.