70^th BPSC Mains

Introduction

“Artificial Intelligence is neither good nor evil. It’s a tool. It’s a technology for us to use.” – Oren Etzioni

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a technological concept to a powerful force shaping how societies function, economies grow, and governance is delivered. While it holds immense potential to improve the quality of life and policy efficiency, the absence of effective regulatory mechanisms risks turning it into a tool that may reinforce biases, amplify surveillance, and displace democratic accountability. In this light, AI must be developed and deployed within an ethically sound and legally robust framework.

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Opportunities Offered by AI

• AI can enhance public governance by streamlining administrative functions and enabling better targeting of welfare schemes, particularly in regions with large populations and limited bureaucratic capacity.
• In sectors like healthcare and education, AI-driven tools have enabled early diagnosis of diseases, remote learning solutions, and personalized teaching strategies, particularly benefitting rural and underserved communities.
  • For example, AlphaFold is an AI system developed by DeepMind to accurately predict the 3D structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences, revolutionizing biological research.
• The use of AI in agriculture—through predictive analytics, climate-based crop advisories, and soil health monitoring—has empowered farmers to make informed decisions and minimize losses due to unpredictable weather.
  • For example- Microsoft & ICRISAT in Andhra Pradesh, developed an AI-based Sowing App that sends personalized crop advisories via SMS to farmers.
• Law enforcement agencies are increasingly adopting AI-based predictive policing and surveillance technologies to identify crime hotspots and optimize resource deployment, especially in rapidly urbanizing regions.
• AI can also aid in strengthening democratic processes by detecting disinformation campaigns, flagging deep fakes, and analyzing electoral patterns for better voter outreach and inclusivity.

Challenges Posed by AI

• The use of AI often suffers from algorithmic bias, particularly when trained on skewed datasets, which can result in unfair outcomes in sensitive domains like credit scoring, job recruitment, and policing.
• AI systems are frequently criticized for their lack of transparency, with many decisions made through opaque algorithms that are difficult to audit or challenge, weakening the principles of accountability in governance.
• In the absence of strict legal safeguards, the growing use of facial recognition and data collection tools raises serious privacy concerns, especially when deployed in public spaces or linked to citizen databases.
• While automation improves efficiency, it also poses a significant threat to low-skill employment, especially in developing countries, where AI-driven technologies risk deepening existing socio-economic inequalities.
• The rapid proliferation of AI-generated content, including manipulated videos and fake social media posts, poses a threat to public trust, national security, and the integrity of electoral processes.
  • For example, in 2023, a deep fake video of actress Rashmika Mandanna went viral, highlighting AI’s threat to privacy and the misuse of technology for impersonation.

Imperative of Regulation

• There is a pressing need to establish ethical standards and accountability frameworks that ensure AI development remains human-centric and respects constitutional values like dignity, equality, and freedom.
• Regulatory institutions must be empowered to audit AI algorithms for bias, misuse, or unintended harm, with clear provisions for grievance redressal and legal recourse.
• Governments should invest in public awareness, digital literacy, and reskilling programs to help citizens and workers navigate the AI-driven transformation of the economy.
• India should take a leading role in shaping international norms on AI governance through platforms like the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) and align domestic policy with global best practices.

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence is not just a technological advancement; it is a force that will define the future of governance, equity, and citizenship. Its potential to transform lives is vast, but so is its capacity to disrupt systems if left unchecked. For a democratic country like India, it is imperative to strike a balance where innovation flourishes, but within the guardrails of regulation, ethics, and public interest.