16 Jun 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Reflections on Artificial Intelligence, as friend or foe

Syllabus: IT & Computers – Artificial Intelligence

Mains: Uses and Limitations of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

Context: This article discusses various parameters of Artificial Intelligence and its regulation.

Introduction: 

• The extensive coverage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the media highlights both its triumphs and the concerns raised by experts in the field. 
• In response to these concerns, the Association for Computing Machinery released a statement in October 2022 called ‘Principles for Responsible Algorithmic Systems,’ encompassing a broader category of systems that include AI. 
• Other esteemed organisations, including the Future of Life Institute, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, and the Center for AI Safety, have issued cautionary messages, indicating a widespread unease among those who possess substantial knowledge about AI.

Uses and Limitations of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI):

• Current AI systems excel in narrow tasks, displaying superhuman performance and becoming valuable aids to humans. 
• However, their performance declines when confronted with more general or ill-defined tasks that require integrating inferences based on common sense.
• Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) refers to intelligence that is not restricted or specialised. It encompasses the human-like “common sense” that is absent in current AI systems.
  • There is a range of expert opinions regarding the feasibility of building AGI, with some asserting that machines may never achieve it, while others speculate that it could potentially emerge in the distant future. 
• A significant development in the AI field occurred with the release of ChatGPT which utilises a Large Language Model (LLM) to generate text. 
  • LLMs are massive artificial neural networks trained on vast amounts of text data to establish a statistical “model.” 
• ChatGPT’s remarkable success in generating coherent paragraphs garnered widespread attention, leading to speculation about the emergence of AGI in future iterations like GPT-4.
• However, critics argue against such claims, emphasising that LLMs operate at a fundamental level by predicting the most probable or relevant words based on their statistical models. 
  • They are often referred to as “stochastic parrots” devoid of any understanding of meaning. 
  • LLMs are also notorious for generating false information and fabricating citations for non-existent academic papers.
• The advent of true AGI will have profound implications. AGI could potentially surpass humans in various intellectual or mental tasks. 

Challenges with Superhuman AI: 

• AGI systems could represent a superior species created by humans, bypassing natural evolution. 
• Consequently, the arrival of AGI warrants serious consideration and preparation.
• Building AI tools has become relatively accessible, and even narrow AI tools can cause significant harm when used with malicious intent. 
• Large Language Models (LLMs) can generate convincing fake news, leading to mental distress and even self-harm. They can also manipulate public opinion, impacting democratic elections on a global scale. 
  • The absence of effective defence against such malicious behaviour raises concerns, particularly regarding AI-powered weapons and the lack of enforceable bans.
• As AI systems improve and assist humans, unintended harm may occur, disproportionately affecting certain groups due to inherent biases present in the data used for training. 
  • For example, facial recognition systems have shown greater accuracy on fair-skinned men than on dark-skinned women. 
  • Such biases can have catastrophic consequences in autonomous vehicles and medical diagnoses. Privacy is also at risk, as algorithmic systems constantly monitor individuals, violating the right to privacy.
• Recent advancements in AI have primarily taken place in companies with substantial computational, data, and human resources but lack effective public oversight. 
  • Ensuring ethical practices and the alignment of AI systems with public interests becomes crucial. 

Also read: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Tailored framework for India: 

• In India, there is a significant absence of awareness and extensive discussions on issues related to AI. This hampers the understanding of AI’s potential impact on society and limits informed public discourse.
  • AI holds significant potential in various sectors such as public health, agriculture, transportation, and governance. 
  • To fully exploit these advantages, it is necessary to engage in more discussions and deliberations to shape AI systems in a manner that promotes responsibility, fairness, and justice within Indian society.
• Reliance on foreign-made AI systems raises questions about their compatibility with Indian contexts and the need for a more localised approach.
• Therefore, it is essential to conduct systematic evaluations of AI systems in Indian settings to understand their effectiveness and shortcomings. 
  • This evaluation will help identify areas where improvements are needed and ensure that AI systems align with India’s specific requirements.
• Before the widespread deployment of AI systems, it is crucial to establish mechanisms of checks and balances. 
  • This ensures that the implementation of AI technology is accompanied by appropriate regulations, safeguards, and oversight to mitigate potential risks and ensure ethical and responsible use.
• India should develop its own framework, taking into account past experiences of heavy-handed regulations as well as lax enforcement. Striking the right balance is crucial to foster innovation while ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights and interests.

Way Forward: 

• Regulation is needed to address the potential negative impacts of AGI on individuals without compromising the balance between regulation and fostering innovation.
• Rather than resorting to extreme measures like banning or halting AI research and development, which are impractical and ineffective, it is important to focus on the insufficient scrutiny and potential unintentional harm caused by AI. 
• Public discussions should emphasise the solvability of these issues through concerted efforts, considering parameters that require careful monitoring and implementing effective regulation without stifling creativity.

Nut Graf: The extensive media coverage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) highlights both its successes and concerns raised by experts. Superhuman AI poses various challenges, which necessitates the need for ethical practices and public oversight. In India, there is a lack of discussion on AI’s impact, necessitating a tailored framework and systematic evaluations. 

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Jumpstarting the next phase of U.S.-India defence ties

Syllabus: Bilateral Agreements Involving India

Mains: Cooperation and challenges of Indo-US relations.

Context: This article discusses the increasing momentum in U.S.-India defence ties.

Introduction: 

• The U.S.-India relationship has made remarkable strides, especially in defence cooperation, strategic alignment, and economic collaboration. 
• These areas of progress indicate a deepening partnership between the two countries, driven by shared interests and a desire to enhance regional stability and prosperity.

Recent Developments: 

• During the visit by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in June 2023 efforts were made to strengthen the defence partnership and promote collaboration in critical areas.
• During this visit, a roadmap for defence-industrial cooperation was established.
  • This forms part of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) agreement. 
• This roadmap aims to enhance defence manufacturing in India through increased technological cooperation, aligning with India’s goal of reducing import dependency and achieving self-reliance.
• The visit also focused on fostering technological innovation and expanding military cooperation. 
• The launch of the Indus-X initiative provides a fresh impetus for defence innovation engagement between the U.S. and India. 
  • This initiative builds upon the U.S.-India bilateral Space Situational Awareness arrangement, signed in 2022, which aims to enhance information sharing and cooperation in the space sector. 
• Additionally, new areas of cooperation in defence space exchanges have been identified, based on the collaboration between the U.S. Space Command and India’s Defense Space Agency.
• With India’s “Major Defense Partner” status and the signing of four foundational agreements with the U.S., there are now avenues for technology sharing and more frequent cooperation. 
  • These agreements enable the exchange of sensitive technologies without India needing to become an ally and also serve as effective mechanisms to overcome procedural challenges or structural differences and prevent setbacks in the relationship.

The Indo-Pacific Cooperation: 

• U.S.-India defence partnership in the Indo-Pacific region is a fundamental aspect of their engagement.
• The combined threat assessments of India and the U.S. in the region identify China as a common and prominent challenge, as highlighted in the China’s Military Power Report 2022 published by the U.S.
  • The report reveals that the People’s Liberation Army Navy is currently the world’s largest navy in terms of the number of ships, indicating that China’s subsurface presence in the Indian and Pacific Oceans is expected to increase as the region becomes more contested.
• Other significant issues in the Indo-Pacific include Russia’s aggressive actions towards Ukraine and transnational concerns like terrorism and climate change.
• Apart from the Indo-Pacific, the existing scale of American investments in India serves as a strong rationale for promoting broader industrial cooperation between Indian and U.S. companies in the defence sector. 
  • The U.S. government actively encourages its companies to support India’s defence modernization efforts, which could lead to the growth of joint ventures, increased American share in Indian defence manufacturing, and the resolution of existing obstacles in co-development and co-production. 
  • Major American companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Textron already collaborate with Indian companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Tata Group in various defence-related manufacturing activities. 
• Recent steps have also shown promise in revitalising the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI),  particularly in terms of co-production and co-development in the defence sector. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming official state visit to the U.S. on June 22 is further expected to witness several major announcements, particularly in the realm of defence cooperation, showcasing the limitless potential of the emerging defence partnership between both countries.

Read more on India-U.S. relations

Nut Graf: The U.S.-India relationship has achieved significant progress in defence cooperation driven by shared interests and a focus on regional stability. Recent developments include efforts to strengthen defence partnership which is crucial in the Indo-Pacific region. The upcoming state visit of PM Modi to the U.S. is expected to bring further announcements, solidifying the growing defence partnership.