The final day of GPAI Summit 2023 concluded with the session on AI for AII: Bridging the Global AI Divide. AI can significantly impact and aid economies by fast-tracking their progress on sustainable development goals. Here, the inequitable sharing of benefits from AI innovations is a significant roadblock that global southern countries have yet to overcome. The session is critical as it is aligned with India’s priorities proposed within the GPAI.

The esteemed panellists for the session included Hon’ Neema Lugangira, Member of Parliament, Tanzania; Chair, African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance; Shri. S Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY; Kalika Bali, Principal Researcher, Microsoft; H.E Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India; Dr Alison Gillwald, Executive Director, Research ICT Africa and the session was moderated by Mr Anirudh Suri, Founding Partner, India Internet Fund.  

Ensuring equal distribution

Shri. S Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, delivered the keynote address. In bridging the global AI divide, he commented that India’s mission is to ensure that the digital space is made available and democratised on a larger scale. S Krishna also claimed that AI’s potential and impact now were similar to what the Industrial Revolution did in the 19th century. He urged us to consider GPAI as an institution that has entered at the right time where the potential of technology is apparent in order to think of working together to ensure that it delivers for everybody.

Addressing the significance of inclusiveness

Hon’ Neema Lugangira, Member of Parliament, Tanzania, gave the second keynote address where she drew the public’s attention to the extreme progress of the global north through AI, especially in governance. She asked how the voice of the global south is being represented in these discussions of the global north. She talked about the need for more work to ensure AI inclusiveness.

Besides this, she made a call to action to bridge the gap, which included the following:

• Capacity building of AI to governments, policymakers and others
• Lack of digital skills, infrastructure, cost of device and connectivity.
• A global minimum of acceptable standards for AI.
• Inclusion of omitted key stakeholders- Members of Parliament.

She said, “To achieve global AI governance, we must shift from global north exclusive to global north inclusive”.

Risks and measures for bridging the AI divide

Dr. Kalika Bali discussed the need for infrastructure and resource support for the researchers to benefit the world. They should be exposed to the population’s needs and aspirational desires equally. Alex Ellis pinpointed a few risks India currently faces, like capability, voice, research, and capital, that must be acquired wholly. Sneha Revanur emphasised the importance of digital skills training, digital literacy and digital citizenship. The next generation workforce should be upskilled as the generative AI rapidly grows.

Encouraging the global south & north collaboration

Neema commented that it is adequate for the members of parliament to realise the gap to promote global north-south collaboration. She stressed the importance of engaging members of parliament from every country at once.

Crowdsourcing data to bridge the gap

Kalika Bali explains crowdsourcing data in multiple languages is the prime strategy to bridge the data gap. The number of languages on the internet is minimal and predominantly Euro-centric. Other than Hindi, there is not enough data on the internet about other Indian languages. Now, crowdsourcing is considered the easiest way to get data quickly.

Issues with talent

Alex Ellis commented that India will remain increasingly a generator of talent. One of the problems that we currently have is ignorance. Along with the talent, we also need a more comprehensive societal understanding and shared research. Dr. Alison Gillwald emphasised that education is fundamental. The primary determinant, whether you have access to or can use the internet, is the level of education. The more education you have, the more you can do with it.