Context: Sixty countries, including India, China, Brazil, France, and Australia, signed a joint statement on “Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet” at the AI Action Summit in Paris, 2025.
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims: AI Action Summit 2025
Mains: AI Regulations- Different approaches, Challenges, Initiatives
AI Action Summit 2025
- Held in Paris, France. Co-chaired by India and France.
- Focus on: Inclusive and Sustainable AI development.
- 60 countries signed the joint statement, including India, China, Brazil, France, Canada and Australia.
- The United States and United Kingdom were non-signatories.
- Provisions of Joint Statement:
- Ensuring accessibility, trust, and safety in AI deployment.
- Promoting AI for industrial growth and labour market development.
- Encouraging global collaboration in AI innovation.
- Building AI capacity in developing countries.
- AI should be human-centric, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.
Challenges in global AI governance
- Front runners monopoly: US and China are shaping the AI governance discourse, potentially sidelining the specific needs of the Global South.
- U.S. stance: Prioritizes AI innovation and deregulation over global ethical frameworks.
- Potential conflict: between the European regulatory approach and the U.S. free-market approach.
- Different governing models: Diverging AI governance models impact international cooperation on AI standards.
- Resource gap: There is a significant resource gap between developed and developing countries, which affects their ability to advance in AI.
India’s Role in AI Governance
- Leadership in AI Policy Development:
- India’s co-chairing of the AI Action summit highlights its growing global AI leadership.
- Active Participation in Global Forums:
- India is actively engaged in global platforms like the UN, G-20, and Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
- India emphasizes equitable AI access and governance for developing countries.
- Advocacy for Fair AI Governance:
- India has raised concerns about equitable access to AI resources, including data, infrastructure, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
- Recent Achievements:
- India’s leadership in the G-20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration and GPAI emphasized fair AI benefits and risk mitigation.
- Inclusive Global AI Governance:
- India is pushing for an AI governance model that includes marginalized voices from the Global South, focusing on fairness, human rights, and diverse global perspectives.
India’s AI Policies and Initiatives
- National Strategy for AI - NITI Aayog’s AI for All:
- India’s first comprehensive AI strategy, focusing on social inclusion, innovation, and governance.
- Key focus areas: Healthcare, Agriculture, Education, Smart Cities, and Smart Mobility.
- Responsible AI Initiatives:
- Digital India Bhashini: AI-powered language translation platform for regional inclusivity.
- IndiaAI Mission: Aims to develop AI infrastructure, promote innovation, and ensure AI governance.
- AI Policy and Regulation Framework:
- Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 to regulate AI-driven data processing.
- India's Draft National AI Policy (under discussion) focuses on ethics, bias mitigation, and regulatory oversight.
- AI in Governance and Public Services:
- AI-powered chatbots, predictive analytics, and automation in public service delivery.
- AI in crime detection, judicial processes, and e-governance (e.g., AI-powered courts).
Global AI Regulatory approaches
- European Union’s (EU) AI Act:
- First comprehensive AI regulatory framework globally.
- Risk-based classification of AI systems:
- Unacceptable risk AI (banned): Social scoring, real-time biometric surveillance.
- High-risk AI: Used in healthcare, law enforcement, recruitment, and finance (strict regulation).
- Limited risk AI: Subject to transparency obligations.
- United States: Pro-Growth AI Policy
- No single AI law, but sector-specific regulations (e.g., AI in healthcare and finance).
- White House AI Bill of Rights (2022) – focuses on AI ethics, fairness, and non-discrimination.
- The recently announced AI Executive Order aims to boost AI research while minimizing regulatory burdens.
- China: Government-Controlled AI Development
- Strict AI regulations with state-controlled AI ethics and content moderation policies.
- Generative AI laws require AI models to align with state-approved narratives.
- Heavy investment in AI-powered surveillance and military applications.
- United Kingdom: Flexible AI Framework
- Regulation-by-sector approach, allowing AI innovation with industry-specific oversight.
- Focus on AI transparency, data privacy, and accountability without imposing EU-style restrictions.
Also Read: Artificial Intelligence and its Regulation
Challenges in AI Regulation for India
- Balancing Innovation and Regulation: Need for strong AI governance without stifling growth.
- AI Bias and Ethical concerns: Addressing algorithmic biases, privacy violations, and discrimination.
- Data Privacy & Security: Strengthening data protection laws for AI applications.
- Infrastructure & Research Gaps: Need for investment in AI R&D, computing power, and skilled workforce.
- Global AI Standards Compliance: Aligning Indian AI policies with global best practices.