The NITI Aayog is planning to launch a new portal in next six months that will allow private organisations, especially startups, to use public data available with various ministries for innovation and come up with sector-specific solutions, Amitabh Kant, CEO of the government think tank, said here on Saturday
The government departments are generally hesitant in sharing data with private players, restricting the scope of technological research. Hence, we are trying to change that with the help of this portal. Startups can then leverage this data with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to address India-specific issues,” he said.
Kant further said the Aayog would also come up with a strategy document on artificial intelligence soon, laying down some sort of guidelines for use of public data by private players. “I believe innovations always come before the regulations. Hence, policies might not be very relevant. And in certain areas, it’s better for the government to let private players innovate and disrupt,” he added.
Kant was speaking at a conclave on artificial intelligence organised by Bennett University as part of leadingIndia.ai — a collaborative initiative by 100-odd institutions to promote research in the field of AI.
The NITI Aayog CEO said artificial intelligence could help increase India’s year-on-year growth rate by 1.3% and that the government was already working with organisations, such as Microsoft and IBM, in that direction. “We are using artificial intelligence for improving agricultural productivity, using ISRO data in over 100 aspirational districts across the country,” he added.
NITI Aayog, he added, also plans to digitally link 2.5 lakh panchayats by next year and 1.5 lakh primary healthcare centres within the next three years.
Dismissing claims of AI eating into conventional jobs, he insisted it would instead create new job opportunities.
On leadingIndia.ai, Kant said, “Such initiatives have the potential to change the landscape of AI research in India as they bring together startups, industry and academia to work on providing application-inspired ideas.”
Bennett University vice-chancellor Dr Raghunath K Shevgaonkar said Amazon had set up its first Intelligent Devices Lab in the country, on the varsity campus that would help create new skills and promote cutting-edge research in speech technology.
“We are constantly trying to innovate in different paradigms of higher education and trying to align it with the current generation of learners. We have got some success in working with industry and startups, which differentiate us from traditional educational institutions,” said Shevgaonkar.
Dr Deepak Garg, director of leadingindia.ai initiative, said they look forward to working with NITI Aayog to solve some of the critical problems that would help improve the quality of life in the aspirational districts. They are also planning to setup a centre of excellence in AI at Bennett University with the help of Govt of India, he added.
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