Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, delivered a compelling address at the International AI Summit, held on the sidelines of India Mobile Congress 2025 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. Highlighting India’s technology-driven transformation, he underscored AI’s role in saving lives, protecting citizens, and empowering communities.
AI Innovation Transforming Lives
Dr. Pemmasani emphasized that India’s innovations prioritize meaningful impact over technology for its own sake. He spotlighted key achievements including:
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UPI’s universal adoption enabling seamless payments,
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ONDC’s expansion of e-commerce access for small sellers,
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AI-powered alert systems responsible for saving over 500,000 lives during the 2024 Kerala floods.
He also praised the Department of Telecommunications’ AI-enabled Fraud Risk Indicator that blocked 4.8 million scams, preventing ₹140 crore in losses, underscoring AI’s power to uplift society.
Risks and Challenges of AI
While acknowledging AI’s potential, Dr. Pemmasani cautioned about risks such as misinformation through deepfakes, algorithmic bias that discriminates against women and rural applicants, and displacement of jobs due to automation. He warned against misidentification errors in facial recognition and AI misdiagnoses in healthcare, particularly tuberculosis cases in Uttar Pradesh hospitals, highlighting the need for transparent and accountable AI systems.
Five-Point Framework for Responsible AI
To address these challenges, Dr. Pemmasani proposed a five-point framework emphasizing:
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Combating Bias: Mandating fairness audits and diverse data.
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Protecting Jobs: Reskilling the workforce via initiatives like IndiaAI FutureSkills.
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Safeguarding Privacy: Enforcing robust data protection and federated learning.
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Ensuring Transparency: Advocating explainable AI in critical sectors.
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Leading with Ethics: Developing governance frameworks aligned with Indian values and global standards.
Call to Action and Vision
Dr. Pemmasani called upon governments, industries, and citizens to collectively foster trustworthy, inclusive, and human-centric AI. The summit convened experts worldwide to deliberate ethical frameworks and the societal impact of AI, reaffirming India’s leadership in responsible AI deployment.
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Source: PIB
