The government is expected to outline a policy framework for artificial intelligence (AI) at the annual India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, which begins on Tuesday, officials said. In addition to industry participation, the four-day event will feature more than 15 ministerial stands showcasing how AI is being integrated into their departments.
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is also expected to emphasize technology in his inaugural address. “The theme has moved from 5G to the next set of technologies, with AI at the top of the list. At the 2022 event, the Prime Minister launched 5G services in India, while 14 government departments presented industrial use cases for 5G that are being deployed. The same will be done for AI this year,” said a senior telecom official.
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“A great day for the telecommunications sector! On October 15th, at 10am, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)-World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA) and IMC 2024 will be inaugurated. These forums are important, bringing together key stakeholders from all sectors”, posted Modi on X.
The government may also clarify whether it is considering the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to create an independent statutory authority to ensure the development of responsible AI and regulate its use in India.
Last year, TRAI proposed an Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority of India (AIDAI) for this purpose. While the Center has launched initiatives such as “AI for All” and the National AI Strategy to harness AI for the benefit of society, inter-ministerial debates have increasingly highlighted the need to integrate these initiatives into a coherent AI policy.
Ramakrishna P, CEO of IMC, said the event aims to create a think tank on the issue. “The evolution of AI and generative AI (genAI) is a leading global phenomenon today, and the world is just beginning to realize its potential and impact. Today, India is at the center of technological evolution and plays an important role,” he noted.
Over 50 global and Indian speakers are expected to discuss various aspects of AI and GenAI in over 11 diverse panels over the four days of the IMC 2024 event. The talks at the Telecom and Tech Meet will mainly focus on AI and GenAI, discussing topics such as AI in networks, AI in chipsets and ethical AI.
Aspire, the flagship of the startup program launched in the last edition, will be bigger this year, according to the organizers. The Aspire program will host more than 140 startups focusing on AI-based applications across diverse sectors.
In the telecom sector, operators have been experimenting with AI for at least five years, with intensified efforts towards a nationwide 5G rollout by October 2022. Three private sector telecom service providers – Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea – have confirmed that they are using AI tools for network expansion, engineering, and monitoring user issues and complaints.
Billed by the government as India's premier technology event, IMC will be held this year alongside two important global telecom meetings in Delhi. India will host the WTSA from October 15-24, 2024, ahead of the Global Standards Symposium.
The ITU, a specialized UN agency for information and communications technologies of which India is a part, conducts the WTSA every four years to plan its standardization program.
The government believes that India's participation in these meetings is crucial in shaping global agendas on emerging technologies such as AI, 6G, Internet of Things, satellite communication and quantum computing.
A one-day joint session on 'AI for Good', where experts and delegates from around the world will discuss the issue, will be organized by the IMC and ITU.
India has increasingly stepped into the global AI conversation by hosting the India Global AI Summit in New Delhi in July, bringing together more than 12,000 global AI experts, professionals and delegates from 50 countries.
