NITI Aayog releases a Discussion Paper on "National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence"

Discussion Paper on National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence
by NITI Aayog, New Delhi, India, June 2018.

Table of Contents

• Introduction - #AIforAll: Technology Leadership for Inclusive Growth
  
• Executive Summary
• What is Artificial Intelligence?
• Global Developments in Artificial Intelligence 
• Artificial Intelligence and India 
• Focus Areas for AI Intervention 
• Healthcare 
• Agriculture 
• Education 
• Smart Cities and Infrastructure 
• Smart Mobility and Transportation 
• Key Challenges to Adoption of AI in India 
• Way Forward To Harness the Power of AI 
• Research 
• Skilling for the AI Age 
• Accelerating Adoption 
• Ethics, Privacy, Security and Artificial Intelligence 
• Actions for the Government 
• Appendix I: Artificial Intelligence Explained 
• Appendix II: Global Country Strategy Review 
• Appendix III: Data Ecosystem 

Introduction [Excerpt]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to disrupt our world. With intelligent machines enabling high-level cognitive processes like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem solving and decision making, coupled with advances in data collection and aggregation, analytics and computer processing power, AI presents opportunities to complement and supplement human intelligence and enrich the way people live and work. 

India, being the fastest growing economy with the second largest population in the world, has a significant stake in the AI revolution. Recognising AI's potential to transform economies and the need for India to strategise its approach, Hon'ble Finance Minister, in his last budget speech, mandated NITI Aayog to establish the National Program on AI with a view to guiding the research and development in new and emerging technologies. In pursuance of the above, NITI Aayog has adopted a three-pronged approach – undertaking exploratory proof-of-concept AI projects in various areas, crafting a national strategy for building a vibrant AI ecosystem in India and collaborating with various experts and stakeholders. Since the start of this year, NITI Aayog has partnered with several leading AI technology players to implement AI projects in critical areas such as agriculture and health. Learnings from these projects, under various stages of implementation, as well as our engagement with some of the leading institutions and experts have given a better perspective to our task of crafting the national strategy for AI which is the focus of this discussion paper.

This strategy document is premised on the proposition that India, given its strengths and characteristics, has the potential to position itself among leaders on the global AI map – with an unique brand of #AIforAll. The approach in this paper focuses on how India can leverage the transformative technologies to ensure social and inclusive growth in line with the development philosophy of the government. In addition, India would strive to replicate these solutions in other similarly placed developing countries.

#AIforAll will aim at enhancing and empowering human capabilities to address the challenges of access, affordability, shortage and inconsistency of skilled expertise; effective implementation of AI initiatives to evolve scalable solutions for emerging economies, and endeavors to tackle some of the global challenges from AI's perspective, be it application, research, development, technology, or responsible AI; will focus on harnessing collaborations and partnerships, and aspires to ensure prosperity for all. Thus, #AIforAll means technology leadership in AI for achieving the greater good. 

Amitabh Kant | CEO, NITI Aayog

Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)