Future with Artificial Intelligence: Competition or Collaboration

Competition and Collaboration are parallel themes in international relations. However, the dominant paradigm of the 21st century is going to be competition. One of the major areas of this paradigm is going to be technology. National security structures in the west reflect the rise of emerging military technologies. The intensifying technology competition is also making inroads and avenues for purposeful collaboration among like-minded partners whether bilaterally or at multilateral institutions.

Cheap computing power, easy availability of data and enabling accessible algorithms have made the rise of artificial intelligence possible. It’s a good bellwether for possibilities and challenges of international cooperation on emerging tech. The positive spin offs are numerous – fostering innovation, propelling development, increasing efficiency, decreasing human drudgery and enhancing user experience etc. The fundamental line of economic thought in India on inclusive growth can be made possible by the rise of AI.

Although a host of cons come along – whether its criminal activities, fake information/news, privacy and safety concerns, the cost of missing the bus on this technology would be immense. AI development and deployment is inherently international in character. The nature of AI is such that it learns as it grows. This entails collaboration and learning from each other, not only for successfully deploying relevant AI systems but also creating necessary frameworks and marshalling resources in a manner suitable for all. India could be a role model for the global south in this regard.

India and its partners confront some similar challenges when it comes to the development and deployment of AI. One imperative involves nurturing, attracting, and retaining the requisite talent. According to Macro Polo’s Global AI Talent Tracker, 12% of elite AI researchers in the world received their undergraduate degrees from India, the most after the United States (35%) and more than China (10%). Yet, very little top-tier AI research is being conducted in India. Securing supply chains, requisite physical infrastructure, alignment of standards and procuring raw materials especially semiconductors remain issues in a flux under the umbrella of artificial intelligence and its deployment.

Nation states are still in a flux while enunciating their AI strategies and cooperation amongst them is the need of the hour. It is already discernible as emerging technologies have become the talking point at multilateral forums including the QUAD. It will be a challenging task to come on the same page given the varied levels of deployment of AI in various countries. For example the touchy topic of Data is one such aspect. One other aspect is the dialogue on ethics of AI – this social transformation will have deep ethical impact, with these powerful new technologies both improving and disrupting human lives.

The way ahead for cooperation in the realm of AI looks organic as market forces are constantly evolving. The decisions in this realm on any aspect enlisted above will shape the contours of the fourth industrial revolution.

About Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes

Finance Minister, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman has announced an outlay of INR 1.97 Lakh Crores for the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes across 13 key sectors, to create national manufacturing champions and generate employment opportunities for the country’s youth. In addition to the three schemes announced earlier in March 2020, GoI has further introduced the following 10 new PLI schemes in November 2020:

March 2020

Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates (DIs) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): Department of Pharmaceuticals

Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Manufacturing of Medical Devices: Department of Pharmaceuticals

November 2020:

Electronic/Technology Products: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Pharmaceuticals drugs: Department of Pharmaceuticals

Telecom & Networking Products: Department of Telecommunications

Food Products: Ministry of Food Processing Industries

White Goods (ACs & LED): Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Automobiles & Auto Components: Department of Heavy Industry

Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery: Department of Heavy Industry

Textile Products: MMF segment and technical textiles: Ministry of Textiles

Specialty Steel: Ministry of SteelOpportunities Across StatesNAGALAND

Naga chilli, one of the world's spiciest chillis, is grown in the state

Nagaland is predominantly an agrarian economy with 71% of its population dependent on agriculture. Major horticulture crops grown in the state include banana, citrus, pineapple and potato.

Other cash crops grown in the state include rattan and bamboo. The state is classified into four agro-climatic zones and receives an average rainfall of 2,500 mm annually. Among all the natural resources, forest resources such as medicinal plants and timber contribute maximum to the state’s economy.

Nagaland shares its international border with Myanmar in the east and is landlocked by Indian states on the other sides. The state is well connected with the rest of the nation through a road network of around 1,150 km and an airport in Dimapur and National Highway 19 which passes through the State from Dimapur via Kohima to Manipur. This NH 39 is soon to be an international route under the Look East Policy of the Government of India.

Hornbill festival of Nagaland, celebrated each year to promote the cultural heritage of the state, attracts a flock of domestic and foreign tourists. The event takes place in the first week of December, showcasing traditional Naga Morungs exhibition, state cuisines, herbal medicines, flower shows, songs and dances.

ODISHA

Largest producer of aluminum, steel and stainless steel in the country

Odisha is considered as a hub for mineral-based industries due to its large mineral deposits. It has a 480 km coastline with deep ports at Dhamra, Paradip and Gopalpur along with an upcoming port at Subarnarekha. It has 10,000 km of highway road network and there is an industry ready land bank of 505 sq km across the state. It is a power surplus state with over 17,600 MW of power production.

A first-of-its-kind Single Window Portal called Government of Odisha – Single Window for Investor Facilitation and Tracking (GO SWIFT) has been introduced covering the complete life-cycle of industrial projects for time bound and hassle free investment in the State.

PUDUCHERRY

Tourist arrival of over 1.8 mn in 2018

Agriculture and tourism sectors are major contributors to the economy of Puducherry and about 35% of the UT's population depends on agriculture and allied activities.

The degree of irrigation is as high as 90% of the total land. Major food crops grown in the territory include rice, ragi, bajra and pulses, while various cash crops grown include sugarcane, cotton and groundnuts.

Puducherry has mineral deposits of limestone, clay, lignite, phosphate rocks, canker and laterite, among others. Some of the key industries in Puducherry include chemicals, textiles, leather, electronics, light engineering, metals, tourism and food processing.

Puducherry is situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Being a former French colony, the territory witnesses a prominent presence of French culture. The territory is conveniently located about 135 km away from Chennai, with a minor port located between two major ports at Chennai and Tuticorin. Gingee and Pennaiyar are the major rivers in the region. The Ministry of Shipping has identified a lighthouse in the territory to be developed in phase-I of its Lighthouse Tourism initiative.

PUNJAB

Largest agricultural area under irrigation in India

Punjab has an excellent network of irrigation facilities with 99.9% of net area sown covered under irrigation. Punjab, called the "Granary of India", is bounded on the west by Pakistan, on the north by Jammu and Kashmir, on the northeast by Himachal Pradesh and on the south by Haryana and Rajasthan. The state has one of the highest road densities amongst Indian states at 133 km per 100 sq. km. It is well connected to all major markets with 72,212 km of the total road network, 2,830 km of rail track network and 5 airports. It has a total installed capacity of over 13,400 MW. Punjab ranks second in logistics ease in the country. It also offers a strong logistics backbone with five container freight stations (CFSs) and four inland container depots (ICDs); thereby easing exports and imports for the state.

The state has a total cultivable area of 4.2 mn ha, which constitutes 3% of the net area sown in India. With this area, Punjab produces 18% of wheat, 12% of rice, 10% of milk, 20% of honey, 48% of mushroom and 5% of cotton in the country. In terms of wheat production, it generates the third largest marketable surplus after Canada and Australia; while in the case of rice, its market surplus is second only to Thailand.

Major industries in Punjab include food processing, tractors and auto components, agro-based parts, bicycle and bicycle parts, sports goods, light engineering goods, metal and alloys, chemical products and textiles. The state has also emerged as a key hub for textile-based industries, including yarn, readymade garments and hosiery. The clusters around food and dairy products are the other major sectors of the state.

SOURCE: Invest India, National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency, Government of India