UNESCO and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Host Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Safety and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI)
UNESCO and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Host Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Safety and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Ikigai Law as the implementing partner, organized a stakeholder consultation on Safety and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at UNESCO House, New Delhi on 14 November, 2024. This event marked the launch of a series of five consultations under the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), an initiative by UNESCO and MeitY aimed at crafting an India-specific AI policy report. The report’s objective is to identify strengths and growth opportunities within India’s AI ecosystem, while providing actionable insights for the responsible and ethical adoption of AI across various sectors.
The consultation brought together diverse stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and civil society to explore strategies for aligning India’s AI ecosystem with ethical principles in UNESCO’s Global Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, emphasizing transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness. The AI RAM serves as a diagnostic tool that identifies opportunities for member states to engage, particularly in AI regulatory and institutional capacity-building efforts. As India continues its rapid AI growth, this ethical alignment of AI governance will foster a holistic AI ecosystem for safety and trust, aiding a vision of AI for all.
Advancing Responsible AI Governance in India
This initiative comes at a crucial moment as India embarks on its ambitious INDIAai Mission, backed by over ₹10,000 crore in funding. Central to the mission is the Safe and Trusted AI pillar, which underscores the commitment to ensuring safety, accountability, and ethical practices in AI development and deployment. By promoting indigenous frameworks, robust governance tools, and self-assessment guidelines, the mission aims to empower innovators and democratize AI benefits across sectors.
Highlights from the Consultation
The event featured expert presentations, breakout sessions, and discussions that provided actionable insights into responsible AI adoption:
Building India’s AI Roadmap
Breakout sessions facilitated in-depth discussions across key areas, including governance, infrastructure, workforce, and sectoral AI adoption. Participants provided valuable inputs, shaping the foundation for India’s AI policy roadmap. These collaborative efforts aim to address gaps, prioritize opportunities, and ensure ethical AI practices that contribute to societal well-being.
Way Forward
UNESCO and MeitY are committed to translating the principles of UNESCO’s Global Recommendation into concrete policy actions tailored to India’s unique AI ecosystem. The AI RAM sessions will continue across India, fostering multi-stakeholder engagement to advance inclusive, responsible, and sustainable AI governance.
For further details, please contact Ms. Eunsong Kim, Chief of Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office at e.kim@unesco.org, or Sindhuja Khajuria, Communications and Public Relations Officer, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office at s.khajuria@unesco.org.