Vice President calls for balanced AI regulation
By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu: Assistant Chief Editor
New Delhi: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, at the launch of ‘AI on Trial’ on Friday, stressed the urgent need to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) thoughtfully, warning of a potential “digital dystopia” unless innovation and public safety are balanced.
Urgent need for AI oversight
Speaking at the Vice President’s Enclave in New Delhi during the release of ‘AI on Trial’ by Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar, Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized that AI regulation is critical to shaping society’s future. He cautioned against overregulation stifling entrepreneurship or under-regulation risking safety, bias, and trust erosion, urging a framework that fosters responsible innovation while curbing “sinister designs.”
Balancing innovation and risks
Dhankhar proposed an agile national AI authority with diverse representation to create a “scaffold, not a cage” for regulation. He advocated a risk-based, sector-specific approach—tighter for AI in medical diagnostics than social media—highlighting AI’s dual potential as a tool for progress or destruction, akin to nuclear power. Deep fakes and unchecked trends, he warned, could wreak havoc without oversight.
Protecting citizens and jobs
The Vice President stressed embedding enforceable rights—like explanation and opting out of automated decisions—into AI systems to shield ordinary citizens. He also called for heavy investment in education and digital literacy to reskill workers displaced by AI, particularly the marginalized, ensuring technology serves people, not algorithms.
Legal and ethical challenges
Dhankhar noted AI’s impact on law, challenging traditional concepts like liability and transparency. He warned that delegating justice to opaque systems risks undermining judicial trust, as algorithms lack human discernment. He urged evolving the Digital Personal Data Protection Act to ensure meaningful consent, free from coercive or confusing terms.
Global and sovereign alignment
Underlining India’s cyber sovereignty, Dhankhar advocated for global convergence on AI standards to establish a rule-based order. He emphasized aligning with international norms while prioritizing national interests, a stance echoed amid dignitaries like MPs Sudha Murthy, Rekha Sharma, and Secretary Sunil Kumar Gupta at the event.
