Government Prioritizing AI Innovation Over Regulation, Says IT Secretary S. Krishnan

IT Secretary S. Krishnan said on Wednesday that Innovation is the current priority of the government for Artificial Intelligence (AI), and regulation or new legislation will only be implemented when the need arises. According to the IT Secretary, the government desires the application of AI to maximize public benefits. He stated clearly, "Right now, innovation, not regulation, is our priority. There is ample room for innovation in AI. But if regulation ever becomes necessary, the government will not back down."

He made this statement while launching the India AI Governance Guidelines Report. This report outlines the strategies and principles the government should adopt to govern AI. Krishnan said the report supports the government's position and that there is no urgency to enact legislation. "We are focusing on a human-centric approach, and I am pleased that these principles are included in the guidelines. This report will be very important for India and demonstrates our focus on innovation." He also stated that while promoting innovation, the government will take necessary steps to protect people from harm caused by AI.

The subcommittee suggested seven principles in AI governance: trust, people-first approach, innovation over restraint, fairness and equity, accountability, disclosure and explanation to users and regulators, and adherence to elements of safety, resilience, and sustainability.

The panel, led by IIT Madras Professor B. Ravindran, has suggested several steps that the government is already following, as well as some fine-tuning in the context of AI. The panel's short-term measures for AI safety include: establishing governance institutions, creating an India-specific AI framework, suggesting legal amendments, and expanding the reach of infrastructure and AI safety rules.

The panel's short-term measures for AI safety include: publishing common standards, amending laws and regulations, introducing AI incident systems, and piloting regulatory sandboxes.

The panel also stated that the government should continue to expand capacity, update standard-setting and frameworks, and draft new laws to address emerging risks and potential. Principal Scientific Advisor Ajay Sood stated that all ministries and industries must work together to foster innovation and safety in AI. Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, stated that these recommendations were based on public consultations and the screening of 650 comments.