44th Palkhivala Memorial Lecture held on ‘Artificial Intelligence for Aam Aadmi’

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) today has become much more than a technical issue… it’s a economic issue, a social issue, a governance issue and a moral issue, and is, by far, the most defining conversation,” Nitin Paranjpe, Chairman, Hindustan Unilever Limited, said at the 44^th Palkhivala Memorial Lecture on “Artificial Intelligence for Aam Aadmi”.

He told the audience: “Is technology enhancing human equity or quietly shrinking it without our consent – this is a question that all of us must deliberate upon because we are in the midst of one of the profound technological changes and developments that we have seen. Artificial Intelligence a term that simultaneously creates two contrasting emotions or anxiety. Because we are living in an age where machines can write poetry. They can draft contracts and even converse like human beings.” he added.

Mr.Paranjpe also pointed out that there are several risks associated with AI. “The first is what I would call the risk of digital colonisation. Colonialism was not just about territory. It was about control…control over rules, control over narratives, control over resources…. And today there is a real danger that AI recreates this dynamic in the digital form.” There is also anxiety that AI will displace jobs that it will to concentrate power that it might spread false words that it might erode privacy and and possibly start taking actions on humans without any human accountability, he said.

“AI would touch jobs in a smaller or larger extent. Now this maybe okay and this transition maybe managed if we were living in a society with low birth rate. In India with millions of people job market entering every year – we need growth we need employment led growth. Therefore managing the AI transition in India is not an option it is a social and economic imperative for us,” he added.