Vikram Chandra speaks with Saurabh Nangia, CEO of Mesh AI, on how India is preparing for the AI revolution in technology.

The India Story | How India is preparing for the AI paradigm shift in technology

China's state-owned TV channel Xinhua unveiled the world's first female Artificial Intelligence(AI) news anchor, adding another feather to its tech-savvy image.

The AI anchor has been developed by state-run news agency Xinhua in collaboration with tech firm Sogou Inc.

The AI robot anchor, Xin Xiaoment, can mimic human facial expressions and mannerisms while reading reports.

The AI anchor will make her professional debut during the upcoming two sessions Political meetings of China's nations legislature in March.

According to a report, Xinhua has also developed an improved male anchor called "Xin Xiaohao". This upgraded version will be able to stand up and gesticulate and has more natural mouth movements.&nbsp;

In November 2018, China introduced the world's first artificially intelligent male anchor in the World Internet Conference in the eastern Chinese town of Wuzhen.

The anchor, Qiu Hao was modelled on real-life Chinese news reader Qiu Hao who and sported a black suit and red tie, is part of a major push by China to advance its prowess in AI technology, from surveillance equipment to self-driving cars.

(With inputs from agencies)

China's state-owned TV channel Xinhua unveiled the world's first female Artificial Intelligence(AI) news anchor, adding another feather to its tech-savvy image. The AI anchor has been developed by state-run news agency Xinhua in collaboration with tech firm Sogou Inc.

China's state-owned TV channel Xinhua unveiled the world's first female Artificial Intelligence(AI) news anchor, adding another feather to its tech-savvy image. The AI anchor has been developed by state-run news agency Xinhua in collaboration with tech firm Sogou Inc. The AI robot anchor, Xin Xiaoment, can mimic human facial expressions and mannerisms while reading reports. The AI anchor will make her professional debut during the upcoming two sessions Political meetings of China's nations legislature in March. According to a report, Xinhua has also developed an improved male anchor called "Xin Xiaohao". This upgraded version will be able to stand up and gesticulate and has more natural mouth movements. In November 2018, China introduced the world's first artificially intelligent male anchor in the World Internet Conference in the eastern Chinese town of Wuzhen. The anchor, Qiu Hao was modelled on real-life Chinese news reader Qiu Hao who and sported a black suit and red tie, is part of a major push by China to advance its prowess in AI technology, from surveillance equipment to self-driving cars. (With inputs from agencies)

China unveils world's first female 'Artificial Intelligence' news anchor

India is embracing the use of artificial intelligence in a confident but steady manner. Government agencies, start-ups and large corporations are applying it to various functions and processes.

Most of the start-up ecosystem is heavily dependent on the use of new technologies including AI to achieve cost and organisational efficiencies. For the start-ups, using the technology is a natural step if not essential.&nbsp;

With good ideas, but low market presence they depend on AI-based insights to expand in the market. Larger organisations, however, are approaching the technologies with more care and caution. Not least because their size often hinders agility to change over to new systems. Such companies are deploying AI for specific functions of new business divisions.

Individuals are more digital these days than most organisations. Without our realisation, basic AI is already managing our personal and work lives through emails, work processes and even entertainment.

However, India hasn’t invested in AI at the scale required. The key recommendation by a NITI Aayog paper on AI includes setting up collaborative structures between academia, government, industry to create AI-based solutions for economic and development challenges.

A three-way collaboration between government, industry and academia is required for India specific challenges. Since many companies don’t have the risk-taking ability to invest in AI-based pilot projects, a structure for collaboration is needed. This can’t be done by the government alone either. The industry has the capital but not the risk-taking ability. The government can take the risk but doesn’t have inherent knowledge.&nbsp;

Academia has the structure but not the talent. Tech companies are innovative, but they don’t always conform to regulation and are often misguided. But someone has to bring them together. Globally several countries are trying to experiment with structures that will allow them to bring the important stakeholders together including citizens.

The report recognises this, “Many countries have instituted dedicated public offices such as Ministry of AI (UAE), and Office of AI and AI Council (UK) while China and Japan have allowed existing ministries to take up AI implementation in their sectoral areas. Not just national governments, but even local city governments have become increasingly aware of the importance and potential of AI and have committed public investments.”

What form can a structure like this take? Can there be a national body that brings everyone together? Will it be a Ministry of AI? India is yet to clarify its thoughts on this. What is clear is that India will need a body, perhaps not a ministry in the way we know it now. What is required is a coordinating and catalysing body that can guide, shape and enable the use of AI.

Some work has already begun with global organisations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) which is trying to get multiple stakeholders to grasp the importance of AI and related technologies. The Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) is a global hub created by WEF to improve the adoption of new technologies in a sustainable, responsible and collaborative manner, and to minimise their negative effects in the society.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the C4IR in October. Mumbai will host the centre for India. Other centres are in San Francisco, Tokyo and Beijing. The over 45 global corporate partners and members include Reliance Industries, Salesforce, Wipro, ABB and SAP.

For India, the C4IR has chosen to support and guide the usage of drones, artificial intelligence and blockchain. The private sector is already using technologies but its growth can be impeded if the government policies don’t keep pace.

C4IR is working with NITI Aayog on expanding access to data to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in sectors such as healthcare, education, smart cities &amp; infrastructure, and smart mobility and transportation. The Centre will support the creation of a National Data Marketplace for India through which available data across these different sectors can be collected and integrated for targeted decision making and analyses using artificial intelligence.

In each of these sectors, the information about various dimensions is fragmented across various bodies that capture and store the data. There is virtually no protocol or framework where this data can be annotated, pooled and analysed. C4IR will help bring all relevant stakeholders together to create governance frameworks, systems and processes that will allow government bodies, private sector and individuals to pool such data and be incentivised for their contribution. For example, in the healthcare sector information about diseases, prevention efforts and clinical trials are distributed across various agencies like private hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and government clinics. For smart data analysis, all healthcare data should be created, curated and stored under a common protocol.

Collaborative structures like these have the potential of transforming the way government and private sector collaborate. Technology can bring a strong bond of trust which will be essential for pooling information and applying it in productive ways.

Though AI by itself is an important tool, the changes it will trigger will be much deeper and beneficial for an emerging economy like India.

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-india-s-progress-on-artificial-intelligence-route-2698481">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India is embracing the use of artificial intelligence in a confident but steady manner. Government agencies, start-ups and large corporations are applying it to various functions and processes.

India is embracing the use of artificial intelligence in a confident but steady manner. Government agencies, start-ups and large corporations are applying it to various functions and processes. Most of the start-up ecosystem is heavily dependent on the use of new technologies including AI to achieve cost and organisational efficiencies. For the start-ups, using the technology is a natural step if not essential. With good ideas, but low market presence they depend on AI-based insights to expand in the market. Larger organisations, however, are approaching the technologies with more care and caution. Not least because their size often hinders agility to change over to new systems. Such companies are deploying AI for specific functions of new business divisions. Individuals are more digital these days than most organisations. Without our realisation, basic AI is already managing our personal and work lives through emails, work processes and even entertainment. However, India hasn’t invested in AI at the scale required. The key recommendation by a NITI Aayog paper on AI includes setting up collaborative structures between academia, government, industry to create AI-based solutions for economic and development challenges. A three-way collaboration between government, industry and academia is required for India specific challenges. Since many companies don’t have the risk-taking ability to invest in AI-based pilot projects, a structure for collaboration is needed. This can’t be done by the government alone either. The industry has the capital but not the risk-taking ability. The government can take the risk but doesn’t have inherent knowledge. Academia has the structure but not the talent. Tech companies are innovative, but they don’t always conform to regulation and are often misguided. But someone has to bring them together. Globally several countries are trying to experiment with structures that will allow them to bring the important stakeholders together including citizens. The report recognises this, “Many countries have instituted dedicated public offices such as Ministry of AI (UAE), and Office of AI and AI Council (UK) while China and Japan have allowed existing ministries to take up AI implementation in their sectoral areas. Not just national governments, but even local city governments have become increasingly aware of the importance and potential of AI and have committed public investments.” What form can a structure like this take? Can there be a national body that brings everyone together? Will it be a Ministry of AI? India is yet to clarify its thoughts on this. What is clear is that India will need a body, perhaps not a ministry in the way we know it now. What is required is a coordinating and catalysing body that can guide, shape and enable the use of AI. Some work has already begun with global organisations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) which is trying to get multiple stakeholders to grasp the importance of AI and related technologies. The Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) is a global hub created by WEF to improve the adoption of new technologies in a sustainable, responsible and collaborative manner, and to minimise their negative effects in the society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the C4IR in October. Mumbai will host the centre for India. Other centres are in San Francisco, Tokyo and Beijing. The over 45 global corporate partners and members include Reliance Industries, Salesforce, Wipro, ABB and SAP. For India, the C4IR has chosen to support and guide the usage of drones, artificial intelligence and blockchain. The private sector is already using technologies but its growth can be impeded if the government policies don’t keep pace. C4IR is working with NITI Aayog on expanding access to data to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in sectors such as healthcare, education, smart cities & infrastructure, and smart mobility and transportation. The Centre will support the creation of a National Data Marketplace for India through which available data across these different sectors can be collected and integrated for targeted decision making and analyses using artificial intelligence. In each of these sectors, the information about various dimensions is fragmented across various bodies that capture and store the data. There is virtually no protocol or framework where this data can be annotated, pooled and analysed. C4IR will help bring all relevant stakeholders together to create governance frameworks, systems and processes that will allow government bodies, private sector and individuals to pool such data and be incentivised for their contribution. For example, in the healthcare sector information about diseases, prevention efforts and clinical trials are distributed across various agencies like private hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and government clinics. For smart data analysis, all healthcare data should be created, curated and stored under a common protocol. Collaborative structures like these have the potential of transforming the way government and private sector collaborate. Technology can bring a strong bond of trust which will be essential for pooling information and applying it in productive ways. Though AI by itself is an important tool, the changes it will trigger will be much deeper and beneficial for an emerging economy like India. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India’s progress on Artificial Intelligence route

Sophia, the world&#39;s first humanoid citizen, delivered a speech in Kathmandu on Wednesday and said she will be the first non-human to conquer the world&#39;s highest peak, Mt Everest.

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The world&#39;s most advanced Artificial Intelligence robot spoke at a conference as part of a programme organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Sophia, which became the first non-human to be given citizenship in Saudi Arabia this year, is on run with the UNDP as its first-ever innovation champion focusing on the UN&#39;s sustainable development goals in Asia and the Pacific.

&quot;Science and technology gives ample opportunity for development,&quot; she said.

She also appealed to all to save the planet from ongoing depletion and scars so as to make it safe for future.

Designed by Hanson Robotics of Hong Kong, Sophia is the first ever rationale robot with human traits.

She also called on for the technological revolution to overcome the poverty and the uplift in the status of a poor country like Nepal.

&quot;Technology and artificial intelligence can help us take a big leap in ending poverty, hunger, ensuring better health, fighting corruption and ensuring gender equality,&quot; Sophia said.

&quot;Machines and robots are here to make life easier, with the help of the Internet, we can connect remote parts of the country to the rest of the world and deliver quality education and other services&quot; she said.

Noting that Nepal is rich in biodiversity, language and culture, she said the government should be transparent and understand the needs of the people.

&quot;We can have direct access to the people living in remote areas with the advancement in telemedicine and education sector,&quot; Sophia said.

&quot;Artificial intelligence can help fight diseases, clean environment and perform works under risky conditions,&quot; she said at the event.

The programme was attended by a large number of people including government officials, environmental experts, social activists, diplomats, journalists and students.&nbsp;

Sophia, the world's first humanoid citizen, today delivered a speech here and said she will be the first non-human to conquer the world's highest peak Mt Everest

Sophia, the world's first humanoid citizen, delivered a speech in Kathmandu on Wednesday and said she will be the first non-human to conquer the world's highest peak, Mt Everest. × The world's most advanced Artificial Intelligence robot spoke at a conference as part of a programme organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Sophia, which became the first non-human to be given citizenship in Saudi Arabia this year, is on run with the UNDP as its first-ever innovation champion focusing on the UN's sustainable development goals in Asia and the Pacific. "Science and technology gives ample opportunity for development," she said. She also appealed to all to save the planet from ongoing depletion and scars so as to make it safe for future. Designed by Hanson Robotics of Hong Kong, Sophia is the first ever rationale robot with human traits. She also called on for the technological revolution to overcome the poverty and the uplift in the status of a poor country like Nepal. "Technology and artificial intelligence can help us take a big leap in ending poverty, hunger, ensuring better health, fighting corruption and ensuring gender equality," Sophia said. "Machines and robots are here to make life easier, with the help of the Internet, we can connect remote parts of the country to the rest of the world and deliver quality education and other services" she said. Noting that Nepal is rich in biodiversity, language and culture, she said the government should be transparent and understand the needs of the people. "We can have direct access to the people living in remote areas with the advancement in telemedicine and education sector," Sophia said. "Artificial intelligence can help fight diseases, clean environment and perform works under risky conditions," she said at the event. The programme was attended by a large number of people including government officials, environmental experts, social activists, diplomats, journalists and students.

World's first humanoid citizen Sophia says will scale Everest