India should handle AI with caution; one nation shouldn't dominate it: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the country should be “extremely careful” in its use of artificial intelligence (AI) and must brace itself for any legal, ethical, political and economic upheaval that using the technology may come with.

Singh gave the word of caution while speaking at the inauguration of the event AIDef (Artificial Intelligence in Defence) in New Delhi on Monday (July 11).

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“We have to use artificial intelligence (AI) for humanity’s progress and peace. It should not be the case that a country or a group of countries establish their dominance on this technology –just like nuclear power – and the remaining countries are not able to enjoy the fruits of this technology,” he said.

Singh said that the ethics and dangers of AI should be properly thought out before using it.

“We cannot stop the progress of artificial intelligence and we should not try to stop its progress. But we need to be careful about it,” he mentioned.

When a new technology brings a huge change, its transition period is also as huge and serious, he said.

“Since AI is a technology that can bring a massive change, we must be ready to face the legal, ethical, political and economic upheaval that may follow,” he added.

“We need to work on AI extremely carefully so that this (technology) does not go out of our control in the coming times.”

Comparing the arrival of a technology with the movement of a clock, Singh said just like a clock, technology cannot be withdrawn like the hands of the clock cannot be walked back.

“Whenever a new technology comes, society takes its time to adjust itself to it,” he added.

He also said that the country should ensure democratic use of the technology.

The defence sector is undergoing important changes due to AI. Training of soldiers is also being improved with the help of AI, he mentioned.

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Singh launched 75 defence products powered by artificial intelligence at the event.
Out of these 75 products, some are already being used by the armed forces while the rest are in the process of deployment. These 75 products are in the domains of robotics systems, cyber security, human behaviour analysis, intelligent monitoring system, supply chain management, voice analysis and C4ISR (command, control, communication, computer and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and operational data analytics.

(With inputs from agencies)