If a half baked document produced by consultants, with the help of flowery decorative AI governance texts available in public domain and might be with some help of the known LLMs, can create an effective oversight mechanism for AI in this country, then we are fooling ourselves. Some efforts would have gone in by some flamboyant tech-savvy bureaucrats, but that would also not be enough given the monumental challenge of providing AI a direction of our choice, in tune with everything we want. First and foremost, are we even sure what we are looking for?
The final destination as far as the conceptual AI construct is still not clear the world over. The AI world is itself in the nascent stage, and momentous changes are in the offing, as we would all agree. Can an oversight board manage to change as per the dynamic and real time changes? Neither the government will have the powers to do that, nor will it allow it to be on its own. Will be another high profile high tech tick mark on the menu of the government’s tech and AI success. What work and in which manner the Board would perform is important, nonetheless, who would be the technocrats mandated for purpose is more important.
In the building phase of any organisation and more so, a Board of this nature, which is bound to have a lasting impact on our existence, the person who leads and the ones who man it should be competent enough to really usher worth and add value to this organisation. As the news goes, the Indian government plans to establish an AI oversight Board. It has grandiose plans to make it all encompassing, though it would be a long time till we are able to fathom out the granular operational details. The AI Oversight Board will be tasked with evaluating, approving, and monitoring AI applications used across government services, ensuring they align with ethical and regulatory standards.
It would take time, effort and understanding of our AI landscape to come up with the ethical and regulatory standards. That could well turn out to be the beginning of messing up, with ramifications which might not be seen by the naked eye. Mandatory training in AI for bureaucrats is also on the platter. AI Competency Framework for Public Officials has just been released. Whether AI applications in the private sector will come in its ambit? It is the private sector AI tools, models and programs which will churn the government. The framework expects that the government officers must develop a critical understanding of the AI’s ethical and security challenges. First they understand what AI is and what AI can be for the government.
AI OVERSIGHT BOARD IS LIKE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE AI HORSE.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.