rime Minister Narendra Modi has called for global cooperation in ensuring inclusive technological governance, advocating for bias-free data in artificial intelligence (AI) systems to foster trust and transparency.
Speaking at the AI Action Summit in Paris, which he co-chaired with French President Emmanuel Macron, he emphasised the necessity of open-source systems to achieve these objectives.
Highlighting AI’s transformative potential in reshaping economies, societies, and security frameworks, the Prime Minister urged nations to work collectively to democratise technology and promote people-centric applications.
“AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture and so much more. It can help create a world in which the journey to Sustainable Development Goals becomes easier and faster. To do this, we must develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency,” he asserted.
Stressing the need to eliminate biases in AI, Modi cited the importance of curating quality data sets free from prejudices. “We must build quality data sets, free from biases. We must democratise technology and create people-centric applications. We must address concerns related to cybersecurity, disinformation, and deep fakes. And, we must also ensure that technology is rooted in local ecosystems for it to be effective and useful,” he emphasised.
Bias in AI, often rooted in unrepresentative training data or systemic errors, can lead to skewed or inaccurate outcomes, reinforcing stereotypes.
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Studies have demonstrated how AI models have exhibited racial or gender-based biases, such as disproportionately displaying images of white men in high-paying professions or inaccurately responding to health-related queries based on racial demographics.
Providing a practical example, Modi noted, “If asked to generate an image of someone writing with their left hand, AI platforms are likely to depict a right-handed writer instead, as right-handed examples dominate the training data.”
The Prime Minister warned of the far-reaching consequences of biased AI, particularly in decision-making processes affecting individuals. “It shows that while the positive potential of AI is absolutely amazing, there are many biases that we need to think carefully about,” he stated.
Recognising the rapid pace of AI’s development and adoption, Modi called for concerted global efforts to establish regulatory frameworks and standards that uphold ethical values, mitigate risks, and build trust in AI-driven technologies.
“AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed. And being adopted and deployed even faster. There is also a deep inter-dependence across borders. Therefore, there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards that uphold our shared values, address risks, and build trust,” he remarked.
The AI Action Summit convened global leaders, technology experts, and policymakers to discuss AI’s ethical development and transformative potential.
The discussions centred on the impact of AI on employment, security, and digital inclusion, with an emphasis on shaping regulations that prioritise sustainability and fairness.
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