India’s Massive Digital Footprint Biggest Strength for AI Development, Says Amitabh Kant

India’s digital footprint marks its biggest strength for AI development, and established platforms like Aadhaar, UPI along with massive digital infrastructure create a “unique opportunity” for this futuristic technology to be leveraged to enhance transparency and improve governance, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Friday. Speaking at the closing session of RAISE 2020 Summit, Kant said India optimally leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve its developmental challenges will not only lead to a societal transformation within, but will also benefit other nations in the world, who face similar issues.

“Data lies at the core of development of AI technologies. India’s digital footprint is its biggest strength for AI development,” he said. Noting India’s digital prowess – humongous amounts of data generated at “cheapest possible cost”, rising smartphone penetration and rapid adoption of digital modes of payment — Kant said, “India’s digitisation efforts through platforms such as Aadhaar, UPI, GST, public finance management system and digital infrastructure has created a unique opportunity for AI to be leveraged to increase transparency and improve governance”.