The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under its National Program on Artificial Intelligence, has announced a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering ethical, transparent, and fair AI practices. In collaboration with Digital India Corporation’s IndiaAI-IBD, the program will fund ten research projects aligned with the theme of “Responsible AI,” with the goal of advancing equitable and reliable AI technologies across diverse sectors.
This effort highlights India’s commitment to harnessing AI’s potential while mitigating its risks, fostering innovation that is deeply contextualized to the nation’s socio-economic realities.
The initiative encourages academic institutions, startups, and private companies to submit project proposals addressing critical themes in responsible AI development. The proposed themes include:
- Machine Unlearning: Developing algorithms to eliminate biases or inaccuracies ingrained in machine learning models.
- Synthetic Data Generation: Creating realistic yet privacy-compliant datasets to address gaps in real-world data.
- Algorithm Fairness Tools: Building frameworks to assess and mitigate biases in automated decision-making systems.
- AI Bias Mitigation Strategies: Exploring pre- and post-processing methods to reduce discriminatory outcomes in AI models.
- Ethical AI Frameworks: Establishing guidelines that align AI development with societal and human values.
- Privacy Enhancing Strategies: Implementing techniques like differential privacy and data minimization to protect personal information.
- Explainable AI Frameworks: Enabling transparency in AI decision-making to enhance accountability.
- AI Ethical Certifications: Validating adherence to ethical AI standards.
- AI Governance Testing Frameworks: Ensuring compliance with regulatory and ethical requirements in AI deployment.
- Algorithmic Auditing Tools: Evaluating AI systems for fairness, transparency, and accountability.
The program is open to a wide range of institutions, including IITs, NITs, IIITs, and private academic and research organizations. Startups and companies with expertise in AI and a majority Indian ownership are also encouraged to participate. Joint applications between academic and industry partners are highly recommended to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
Applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest by February 4, 2024. Proposals will be evaluated based on their alignment with the initiative’s objectives, innovative approaches, collaborative potential, and feasibility within a two-year timeline. The evaluation process will emphasize measurable milestones, realistic budgets, and clear metrics for assessing project outcomes.
Through this initiative, MeitY aims to strengthen India’s position as a global leader in AI by prioritizing ethical and inclusive development. By funding innovative research and creating tools for responsible AI, the government seeks to mitigate risks, address biases, and promote transparency and fairness in AI applications.
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