How the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help India in its socio-economic development? Identify the hurdles in its large-scale adoption and suggest corrective measures.

Artificial Intelligence involves objects/processes that mimic human-like intelligence to make decisions and take actions. eg: Drones, deep tech, ChatGPT, etc. AI applications toward socio-economic development Social development (1) Improved social transformation and empowerment of manual scavengers eg: NAMaste scheme - use Pandifoot Robot driven by AI to clean sewers. (2) Improved educational outcomes eg: NEP 5.0 adoption of coding from 6th standard.

Hurdles in adoption (1) High digital divide and low literacy eg: only 5% rural population with internet. (2) AI models not in vernacular language TRAD. (3) Costly adoption for small firms and poor individuals. (4) Threat of privacy and cyber-security eg: 1.3 lakh cases of cybercrime (2023). Corrective measures: (1) National AI mission → India based models. (2) BHASHINI for local vernacular models. (3) Reduced cyber crimes through CERT-IN. (4) Quantum AI → for faster working. (5) Nena Removendra committee recommendations [START] AI is the fuel for Industrial evolution 4.0, therefore adequate steps need to be taken to leverage it.

— Ayush Pathak · AIR 215