ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-USAGE AND PROSPECTS

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND INDIA

Introduction

• Artificial Intelligence is a method of making machines/systems mimic HUMAN INTELLIGENCE to perform tasks efficiently and solve problems with the help of software and information they collect. It is not a single technology but a synthesis of multiple technologies e.g.Big data, IoT, etc

• John McCarthy coined the term ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE at the DARTMOUTH conference in 1955-56. He is hailed as the father of artificial intelligence.

AI and its potential use

a)Healthcare

• Brain-computer interfaces(BCI) backed by AI can help patients in restoring their lost abilities to speak, move and interact with their surroundings meaningfully.

• Diagnosis of diseases using AI-enabled Radiology machines can be more accurate and precise and will help minimize the need for tissue samples in some cases like Biopsies.

• The crunch of clinical staff for diagnosis in developing countries can be easily tackled with AI-powered robots.

• Smartphones and wearables collect huge data related to a person's health like Heart rate, BP, SPO2, etc, and hence using algorithms these data can be beneficial in early disease diagnosis.

• Selfies can be used in disease diagnosis by analysing the variables using artificial intelligence algorithms.DERMATOLOGY and OPTHALMOLOGY are early beneficiaries.

b) Education

• Humanoid Robots powered by AI can help teachers in imparting knowledge to students in a more interactive way and complement the teachers by replying to FAQs of students.

• Various AI-based software after analyzing the knowledge gaps, preferences, and learning ability can help in personalizing the teaching pattern for each student.

• In subjective papers, AI-powered grading software can help in removing biased evaluating patterns of human teachers.

• Natural Language Processing(NLP) can help students in enhancing their writing skills by providing them with necessary corrections and meaningful comments on their reports and documents e.g Grammarly helps in writing clear and error-free and QuillBot helps in paraphrasing the sentences and thus enhancing original content.

• Customizable Smart content like digital textbooks, videos, study guides, etc. can be easily created with AI-powered software tools.

c)Defence

• Simulation and training modules can be designed using Artificial intelligence to train the soldiers to get used to war-like situations.

• New-age weapons embedded with AI technology can hit the target more precisely.

• Remotely operated vehicles combined with AI Robots can be used in defusing explosives and saving precious lives of military personnel.

• This technology can be used in Surveillance to keep an eye on suspicious activities and avoid any unwanted intrusion.

• Artificial Intelligence can be used in intercepting the codes/messages to avoid any kind of bomb blast or terrorist activities and keeps the citizen safe.

d)Space 

• One of the most important applications of AI is autonomous rovers which roam on the planet's surface by avoiding obstacles and making decisions for the best routes e.g NASA's Perseverance rover on mars has collected rock samples.

• By processing satellite-generated data using AI we can study millions of images in seconds and generate clear pictures of objects e.g ESA's Gaia satellite data helped in finding over 2000 new protostars.

• Space debris is one of the challenges that are faced in the space field. Through AI we can locate debris more accurately and design collision avoidance mechanisms that will help spacecraft in orbit in better decision making.

• With AI we can evaluate the operational risk of the mission and minimize the financial losses.

e)Banking

• Smart virtual assistants are helping customers by providing relevant information and banking transactions.

• By using AI Banks can combat fraudulent transactions and improve complaints.

• Customer experience can be enhanced by adding personalized features to products and services by analysing past behavior of customers using AI.

• With the help of AI, banks can predict future trends and outcomes as AI can analyze past behaviours very efficiently and accurately.

f)Miscellaneous

• The predictive power of AI to identify risks on the roads and alert the driver timely to avoid collisions is being implemented in Nagpur City.

• In agriculture, AI is helping in pests and disease detection, and weed management hence improving overall harvest quality.

• In the power sector, AI is helpful in the optimization of generation, transmission, and distribution. It also helps in load management.

• New age transportation, logistics solutions, remotely piloted vehicles, etc are possible using Artificial intelligence.

India and Artificial intelligence

• India has one of the most thriving AI industries in the world as AI-related patent applications grew multifold from 2012 to 2018 India was ranked 8th in the top 10 countries by AI patent families.

• It is expected that by 2030 over 9,00,000 white collar jobs and 3.6 million indirect jobs could be generated through AI as claimed by a report titled 'AI Enables SaaS: The Next Frontier for Global SaaS start-ups from India'.

Government Initiatives

• India is one of the few countries in the world that have developed a conceptual national framework for the use of Artificial Intelligence and its allied field, machine learning.

• In 2018 NITI Aayog released a National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence #AIforAll a comprehensive strategic framework to harness the AI's potential for India and its economy.

• NITI Aayog has launched several initiatives such as Responsible AI for Social Empowerment (RAISE), Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Empowered Group-6, etc.

• Government expenditure on AI and machine learning has steadily increased with expected growth at a CAGR of 39% over the period 2019-2025 to reach around USD 11800 million in 2025.

• Under the Department of Telecommunication(DoT) AI Standardization committee has released a draft framework on the AI stack to enable an environment to exploit AI productivity across all sectors and bring interoperability among other things.

Problems associated with AI

• JOB AUTOMATION- It is of most immediate concern.AI will replace those persons who perform predictable and repetitive jobs.

• PRIVACY CONCERN- AI is being used for DEEPFAKES which gives rise to hyper-real-seeming images or videos that are very difficult to differentiate from real ones.

• STOCK MARKET INSTABILITY- Algorithmic High-Frequency Trading(HFT) is proving to be a huge risk factor in the stock market.

• WIDENING SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITY- AI-driven job loss is pushing families under poverty stress and livelihood concern.

WAY FORWARD

AI and its allied fields are undoubtedly required for better health, education, etc but we need to keep in mind that humans should Rule the technology, not the technology become the master of nature's best creation.

-RAGHU NANDAN SINGH