By Mrinalini Menon
A machine that could organize your cupboard just as you like it or serve every member of the house a customized cup of coffee indeed makes your life a lot easier. These are nothing but the products of artificial intelligence. Theoretically AI or artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science which deals with stimulation of intelligence in machines. But this definition doesn’t do proper justice to the vast scope and reach of AI. The intelligence of computers or software, as opposed to the intellect of people or other creatures, is known as artificial intelligence (AI). It is a branch of computer science that focuses on creating and researching intelligent machines.
But what exactly is the reason behind using the term “Artificial Intelligence” for this particular technology? Well, it is so because these machines are artificially incorporated with human-like intelligence to perform tasks as we do.
This intelligence is built using complex algorithms and mathematical functions. AI is used in various devices and things like smartphones, cars, social media feeds, video games, banking, surveillance and many other aspects of our daily life. AI provides machines with the capability to adapt, reason and provide solutions.
AI can be classified into two types:
Weak AI: This is also commonly known as Narrow AI or Artificial Narrow Intelligence. In this AI are made to perform certain specific tasks with focus and training. A few examples of narrow AI functioning applications are Apple’s SIRI, Amazon’s ALEXA and IBM Watson.
Strong AI: This is an entirely theoretical concept wherein the machines would be well equipped with human emotions and capabilities like reasoning, future planning etc. It is said that it would even surpass the human intelligence capabilities with time and technological advancements.
HISTORY
It took around 10,000 years for humanity or human beings to transcend or advance from writing to printing as a source or way of sharing information with the masses. But it took only around 500 years to switch from printing to a more advanced technology i.e. E-mail. And as
per the present condition’s technology is evolving at a rather fast pace. AI is the latest technological advancement that we have, which is slowly and gradually transforming computers into independent bodies which require minimal to no human interference is required. The idea of AI or artificial intelligence dates back to ancient Greece wherein the concept of AI was just a machine that can think and learn. The following is the timeline of evolution of artificial intelligence over the years:
In the year 1943 the first work which is now recognized as AI was done by Warren McCulloch and Walter pits. They proposed a model of artificial neurons. ∙ In 1949 Donald Hebb demonstrated an updating rule for modifying the connection strength between neurons.
1955 was the year when Allen Newell and Herbert A. Simon created the “first artificial intelligence program”, which was later named as the “Logic Theorist”. ∙ The word “Artificial Intelligence” was first adopted by American Computer Scientist John McCarthy at the Dartmouth Conference.
AI IN INDIA
With the rising use of AI like Chat GPT by not only students but also the other people, it has become a major concern that there are no or minimal laws governing the sector of AI in India. Th matter of AI regulation is gaining momentum particularly after the much spoken about visit of Sam Altman to the country. The Ministry of Electronics and IT set up working groups to develop recommendations and a comprehensive framework for the government and this was expected to be utilized to form AI regulations in the future.
Innovation in AI has been greatly aided by India's startup scene. Businesses like Automation Anywhere, UiPath, and Zebra Medical Vision are leading the way in robotic process automation, while Niramai, SigTuple, and Zebra Medical Vision are advancing AI-driven solutions in the healthcare industry. These firms are primed to have a big global effect because they have drawn a lot of money.
India debuted its first computer in 1957 with the introduction of the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC), an American-made device. To advance research in the discipline, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay established a dedicated AI laboratory in 1968.
Indian specialists started to significantly advance the subject of artificial intelligence by the middle of the 1970s. A comprehensive research of AI applications in agriculture was conducted in 1979 by a group of scientists from IIT Kharagpur, which created the opportunity to use machines to increase agricultural output.
India started to see a sharp increase in AI research in the 1980s. The government started to make significant investments in AI research, and several new AI laboratories were opened at various universities and research facilities.
CONCLUSION
Though there are no direct provisions in the Indian legal system governing AI, there exists a few laws that indirectly protect the digital nagriks of the country. These are as follows2: a) Information Technology Act (IT), 2000: This particular act was enacted on June 9, 2000. The act was subsequently amended in 2008, through which significant changes were introduced in the act like the inclusion of Section 66A which aimed to penalize offensive online content.
b) Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019: This bill was a significant piece of legislation that aimed to regulate the processing of personal data and establish the rights of individuals regarding their personal information. The bill outlined penalties and fines for certain offences with regard to the tampering or misuse of another person’s personal data.
c) Indian Copyright Act, 1957: It is the primary legislation governing copyright laws in India. It protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works as well as cinematographic films and sound recordings. The duration of copyright generally lasts for a time period of around 60 years. In this the copyright holder’s have exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, communicate to the public and adapt their works.
One of the major ethical issues faced by the people on the introduction of AI in our country is the replacement of human power with machines thereby leading to unemployment and the issue of privacy regulations for the common masses. The only practical solution to this issue of job lay offs being introducing and inventing new job opportunities and sectors for people.
The author of this article is Mrinalini Menon, a second-year BBALLB student at DES Shri Navalmal Firodia Law College, Pune.
This article contains the view of the author and the publisher in no way associates with the views or ideologies of the author. All the moral rights vests with the Author(s).
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