The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a set of recommendations to govern the development of artificial intelligence (AI) across sectors. The recommendations are based on the need to regulate specific AI use cases that may have a direct impact on humans within a risk-based framework.
The key highlights of the recommendations:
- Establish an independent statutory authority called the Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority of India (AIDAI). The AIDAI will be responsible for framing regulations on various aspects of AI, including its responsible use.
- Establish a Multi-Stakeholder Body (MSB) to act as an advisory body to the AIDAI. The MSB will be composed of members from different ministries/departments, industry, legal experts, cyber experts, academia, and research institutes.
- Categorize AI use cases based on their risks and regulate them according to principles of responsible AI. The AIDAI will develop a framework for categorizing AI use cases based on their potential impact on society and individuals. This will enable targeted oversight and supervision of AI systems.
- Encourage the deployment of AI by telecommunication companies to combat the menace of unsolicited commercial communication (UCC). TRAI believes that AI and machine learning technologies can be used to proactively detect and prevent spam, safeguarding the interests of telecom customers.
- Designate the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as the administrative ministry for AI. The MeitY will be responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of AI policies and regulations in India.
- Work with international agencies and governments from other countries to establish a global agency that would serve as the primary international body for AI development, standardization, and responsible use.
The TRAI's recommendations are a significant step forward in the development of a regulatory framework for AI in India. The recommendations will help to ensure that AI is developed and used responsibly, and that its benefits are maximized while its risks are minimized.
About the recommendations:
The AIDAI will be an independent statutory authority, which means that it will be free from government interference. This will help to ensure that the AIDAI is able to make objective and impartial decisions about AI regulation.
The MSB will be an advisory body to the AIDAI. This means that the MSB will not have the power to make binding decisions about AI regulation. However, the MSB will be able to provide the AIDAI with valuable insights and recommendations on AI regulation.
The AIDAI will develop a framework for categorizing AI use cases based on their potential impact on society and individuals. This framework will be used to determine the level of regulation that is appropriate for each AI use case.
TRAI encourages the deployment of AI by telecommunication companies to combat the menace of unsolicited commercial communication (UCC). UCC, also known as spam, is a major problem for telecom customers in India. AI and machine learning technologies can be used to proactively detect and prevent spam, which will help to protect telecom customers from this nuisance.
The MeitY will be designated as the administrative ministry for AI. The MeitY will be responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of AI policies and regulations in India.
The TRAI recommends that India work with international agencies and governments from other countries to establish a global agency that would serve as the primary international body for AI development, standardization, and responsible use. This will help to ensure that AI is developed and used responsibly on a global scale.