By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JUNE 04, 2024: ADDITIONAL Secretary (Telecom) Niraj Verma, has highlighted that India is leading in drafting global standards for responsible and trustworthy AI, and the TEC (Standard's body of DoT, India) has released a Standard for assessing and rating fairness in AI Systems.  He also informed that TEC is now framing another Standard for assessing and rating robustness of AI systems.

Verma was addressing a session on 'Harmonizing Global Collaborations in AI Industry: A Roundtable on the Future of AI Standardisation, Regulation and Industry Development', in Geneva, Switzerland.

Additional Secretary (Telecom) led a delegation at ITU Geneva, for t he WSIS+20 (World Summit on the Information Society) Forum High-Level Event 2024 and 'AI for Good' Global Summit from 27 to 31 May 2024. The event was co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD and co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation, with the support of remote participation.

India took over the baton of hosting WTSA 2024 in New Delhi from 15-24 October 2024 during the AI for Good Global Summit at ITU Geneva and extended a warm invitation to the foreign delegates from across the globe to attend the upcoming WTSA in New Delhi. It was followed by launch of host country website of WTSA 2024 (https://www.delhiwtsa24.in/)

The Indian delegation highlighted the reforms undertaken by India using AI in the telecom sector and to build sustainable future in various sessions of 'AI for Good' Global Summit including 'The Government's AI Dilemma: Maximizing Rewards, Minimizing Risks', 'Leaders Talk-X on Looking Ahead: Emerging tech for building sustainable futures', 'AI Governance: How do we ensure Inclusion and Trust', 'Space for Sustainable Development - A Case of Connectivity', etc.

The Indian delegation also brought to the attention of the International Forum that it is crucial to ensure these technologies are accessible and affordable for developing countries to bridge the sustainability gap. It was highlighted that while AI holds immense potential to revolutionize digital governance by enhancing efficiency, improving service delivery, and supporting informed decision-making, however, it is essential to address ethical, privacy, and inclusivity challenges to fully realize the benefits of AI in governance.

The WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event also offered a unique occasion for the international community to assess opportunities for global digital cooperation and join forces towards a forward-looking and reinvigorated shared vision, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)'s twenty-year review of WSIS.