IndiaAI Mission Calls Application for Ethical AI Innovation in India

As the world witnesses a paradigm shift in artificial intelligence (AI), India is not just keeping pace but aiming to lead from the front. The Government of India’s ambitious IndiaAI Mission, launched on March 7, 2024, has made yet another stride toward shaping a future where AI is not only groundbreaking but also ethical and inclusive.

The mission has opened the second round of Expressions of Interest (EoI), inviting India’s brightest minds and innovative organizations to submit proposals that address real-world challenges using AI. With a submission deadline of January 9, 2025, this initiative holds the promise of cementing India’s role as a global AI leader while ensuring that AI technologies align with the country’s unique social, cultural, and linguistic fabric.

Here TICE brings you important details about this opportunity.

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Why Ethical AI is the Need of the Hour

AI is no longer a futuristic dream; it is part of our everyday reality. From transforming healthcare diagnostics to optimizing urban planning, AI’s applications are limitless. But with great power comes great responsibility. The unchecked growth of AI has raised concerns about data privacy, bias, and misinformation.

Recognizing these challenges, IndiaAI’s mission focuses heavily on Safe & Trusted AI, one of its seven foundational pillars. This pillar emphasizes the creation of indigenous frameworks, guidelines, and technical tools to ensure AI systems operate responsibly and inclusively.

The mission’s vision goes beyond technology. It is about creating a world where AI uplifts every section of society, particularly in a diverse and complex country like India.

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The Groundbreaking Impact of the First EoI Round

The first round of EoI laid a strong foundation for India’s ethical AI journey. Out of numerous entries, eight pioneering projects were selected, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in the AI space. These projects tackled critical areas such as:

• Machine Unlearning: Tools that allow systems to forget specific data upon request.
• Synthetic Data Generation: Generating realistic, anonymized datasets for AI training.
• AI Bias Mitigation: Ensuring fairness in AI models.
• Privacy-Enhancing Tools: Strengthening data security.
• Explainable AI: Making AI decisions more transparent and understandable.
• AI Governance Testing: Establishing frameworks to regulate AI effectively.
• AI Ethical Certification: Certifying systems for ethical compliance.
• Algorithm Auditing Tools: Ensuring accountability in AI processes.

These projects didn’t just push technological boundaries; they set the stage for India’s AI community to tackle ethical and social challenges head-on.

What’s New in the Second Round?

Building on this momentum, the second EoI round seeks to deepen India’s AI ecosystem with a sharper focus on five key themes:

1. Watermarking & Labelling: Develop tools to trace and authenticate AI-generated content, enhancing trust in AI systems.
2. Ethical AI Frameworks: Design standards aligned with global best practices to ensure AI technologies uphold fairness and human values.
3. AI Risk Assessment & Management: Create tools that facilitate the safe integration of AI into critical public services.
4. Stress Testing Tools: Test AI systems under extreme conditions to improve their reliability and robustness.
5. Deepfake Detection Tools: Develop real-time solutions to combat the rising threat of deepfakes in digital spaces.

This round aims to inspire solutions that are not only innovative but also actionable, contributing directly to IndiaAI’s mission to make AI technologies safe, reliable, and inclusive.

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Who Can Participate?

The call is open to a wide spectrum of participants, including:

• Academic institutes
• R&D organizations
• Startups
• Autonomous bodies
• Established companies

Collaboration is encouraged, and proposals must focus on developing practical tools and frameworks that address the outlined challenges.

Driving India’s Vision for Ethical AI

IndiaAI operates as an Independent Business Division (IBD) under the Digital India Corporation (DIC), part of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). With its unwavering focus on inclusivity and technological self-reliance, the mission underscores India’s commitment to harnessing AI for the greater good.

This initiative is not just about technology; it is about shaping a future where AI empowers, uplifts, and protects. By investing in responsible AI, IndiaAI is paving the way for India to lead the global discourse on ethical AI innovation.

The clock is ticking. As the January 9, 2025, deadline approaches, the question looms: Will your idea be the one to transform India’s AI landscape?

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