New Delhi, April 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked NITI Aayog to work towards making India a leading nation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) by familiarising all ministries with the high-end technology and explain how it can be used to maximum extent to address the country’s socio-economic problems. The Prime Minister directs Central ministries to set up dedicated artificial intelligence cells so that they will all be integrated to help increase the performance of all social indicators.

The government’s think-tank will review the progress made on artificial intelligence. Pilot projects has already been iNITIated by the ayog across health, education and agriculture ministries, reported The Economics Times. Policy on artificial intelligence will soon be formulated by NITI Ayog. By May end the scope of research and commercialization of the policy will be outlined.

Government will form a dedicated taskforce to supervise the rollout and execution of artificial intelligence. A senior government official told The Economic Times that the government is apprehensive of China’s rising commitment towards AI. The officer further added, “China is way ahead of India in a lot of areas but the government does not want to miss the bus this time when it comes to research and adoption of this technology,” reported The Economic Times.

The Prime Minister wants NITI Ayog to formulate a policy for commercialising artificial intelligence so that entire country should be benefitted from this technology, the official said. He further added, ““The Aayog has been asked to undertake all possible pilots happening elsewhere in the world, if it addresses India’s problems, so government departments and states are willing to use AI in their day-to-day functioning,” reported The Economics Times. A member of the taskforce on artificial intelligence told The Economics Times, “Participation of all the ministries is important in solving socioeconomic problems in the country using AI techniques. In order to do this, there is a need for all the ministries to set up their own individual AI divisions,”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 17, 2018 07:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).