India to bring AI regulation consultation paper within a month: Ashwini Vaishnaw

AI is becoming harder to ignore, not just for technology companies but also for governments trying to figure out where the line between innovation and safety should be drawn. India is now preparing to take another step in that direction, with the government planning to release a consultation paper on AI regulation within a month.Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday that the paper will seek views on how AI should be governed and will focus on safety, deepfakes, a human-first approach and skilling. The development was reported by PTI.AI safety and deepfakes will be key focus areasVaishnaw made it clear that AI safety will be at the heart of the proposed framework. “The time has come for AI regulations,” he said, adding that the consultation paper will become the base for the regulations that follow.“I’ll request the department to come out with a regulation-focused consultation paper, which focuses on safety. That’s the most important point: safety related to AI use,” the minister said. Deepfakes are another major concern for the government. As AI-generated images, videos and audio become increasingly convincing, spotting what is real and what is not is getting harder. Vaishnaw described deepfakes as a “nuisance which can cause huge problems in society.”“People believe them, and it sets a totally wrong precedent. It sets a totally wrong narrative, and people get lured into doing wrong things and believing wrong things,” he said. The consultation will also look at AI-related harms, including concerns around psychological impact, cybersecurity and user safety.India wants a ‘techno-legal’ approach to AI But the government does not appear to be looking at AI regulation as something that can be solved simply by passing a new law.Vaishnaw said India needs a combination of technology and regulation, calling it a “techno-legal solution”. He also stressed that stakeholders, including the technology industry, would need to be part of the process.“The industry has to take the primary responsibility,” Vaishnaw said, referring to issues such as cybersecurity, safety, user harm, psychological disorders and deepfakes.The proposed paper will also focus on skilling and making sure that AI-driven changes do not leave people behind. “Humanity has to be the most important part of change that has happened,” the minister said.The government plans to use feedback from the consultation to shape the broader AI regulatory framework. For now, the first step is expected within the next month.- Ends