MeiTY Reverses Controversial AI Advisory
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) has responded to the controversy surrounding its March 1 advisory regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) firms. This advisory, which had required AI companies to seek government permission before making their products available online in India, has been withdrawn and replaced with a revised version.
The revised advisory no longer includes the requirement for government approval of AI models online and has also withdrawn the demand for an action taken report from tech firms. This move follows sharp criticism from various quarters, including tech firms and policy experts, who argued that the original advisory lacked legal authority and represented an overreach by the Ministry.
Apar Gupta, who voiced concerns about the initial advisory, has pointed out that the replacement advisory still raises issues, albeit without the requirement for government approval. He highlighted the lack of legal power for MeiTY to issue advisories and emphasized the continuation of what he deemed an illegal administrative practice.
Reversal of AI Advisory
Both versions of the advisory caution AI firms against bias, discrimination, or actions that threaten the integrity of the electoral process. Despite the withdrawal of the advisory, Gupta noted that it had prompted a momentary accountability driven by the interests of diverse private sector entities, ranging from large tech firms to Indian startups.
The controversy surrounding the original advisory was partially sparked by the response of Google’s Gemini chatbot to a query regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This incident, along with broader concerns about the impact of the advisory on innovation and the tech ecosystem, led to resistance and ultimately the withdrawal of the requirement for government approval.
Rohit Kumar, the founder of The Quantum Hub, a policy think tank specializing in AI startups, expressed approval of the decision to withdraw the advisory. This move signals a positive development for the AI industry, particularly startups, as it removes potential barriers to entry and innovation. Kumar likely views the reversal as a step in the right direction for fostering a more conducive environment for AI development and deployment in India.
By eliminating the requirement for government permission, the revised advisory may allow AI startups to operate with greater flexibility and autonomy, thereby facilitating growth and progress within the sector. He emphasized the potential negative consequences the original advisory could have had on the speed of innovation and the overall innovation ecosystem. Kumar also stressed the importance of procedural safeguards in policymaking, advocating for a more consultative approach to prevent knee-jerk reactions to incidents.
