During the third edition of Dakshin Dialogues in Hyderabad on 5 October, the minister reaffirmed his commitment to efficient governance and highlighted state initiatives leveraging AI for optimal administration
Published Oct 16, 2024 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 16, 2024 | 8:00 AM
Telangana IT Minister D Sridhar Babu explained the initiatives underway to integrate AI into governance
Speaking at the third edition of Dakshin Dialogues, Telangana IT minister D Sridhar Babu announced that the government will take steps to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into governance.
Reiterating his commitment towards efficient governance, the minister listed some of the state government’s initiatives to leverage AI for optimal governance. He was speaking at Dakshin Dialogues’ third edition, a thought conclave organised by South First in Hyderabad on Saturday, 5 October.
He further listed some of the Telangana government’s initiatives to leverage AI for optimal governance.
Sridhar said a project is underway to bring all 33 government departments under a single portal. “We are coming out with a beautiful and vibrant platform encompassing all 33 departments,” he said.
Pointing out the advantage that the Telangana government has when it comes to data availability, he said AI would be leveraged to capitalise on the availability of data.
“The government has large datasets that require analysis. We must improve the government’s efficiency to enable private players to be captains in AI. All 33 government departments will have two AI enablers,” he said during South First’s event, explaining that these would “help in mining data from the last 70 years.”
He also added that curating data would be key to optimum use of resources, driving up efficiency, and productivity – “That’s where we are taking an unprecedented lead, unlike any other government.”
The minister said that current products of value to the government would be considered, and the state government would partner with industry leaders in AI and enlist them as consultants to up government efficiency and productivity.
“Ultimately, this entire process will make the government more accountable to the people,” he said. Addressing the need for a comprehensive AI policy, Sridhar said: “A regulatory framework is among the most important things for a policymaker. We need to come up with a policy for the ethical use of AI.”
The Telangana minister also noted, “We will discuss AI with several policymakers, people in the legal system, and technophiles alike. Europe has a vibrant AI policy and Switzerland has a great policy on AI in education. We are analysing the best practices globally to come up with a policy.
He assured his audience that all stakeholders would be involved to ensure that a robust AI framework is established.
“It is the government’s policy to promote industries by turning into their clients,” independent research and civic hacker, Srinivas Kodali opined. Noting that efforts were underway to lift AI by purchasing solutions, he noted that such a shift is not unprecedented.
“Similar policies have resulted in the exclusion of scores of people in the past,” he explained. “This exclusion resulted from the lack of safeguards and basic testing,” he continued.
Answering a question regarding existing AI integration in the government departments and how numerous families were denied a ration card due to errors, Sridhar said: “AI by itself cannot make mistakes. The mistakes occur at the data input stage. We have to ensure that there are no errors there.”
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)
