In a bid to understand and harness the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India, Nasscom has unveiled preliminary findings on the state of Responsible AI (RAI) in the country.
The insights, derived from a survey of 500+ senior executives spanning large enterprises, SMEs, and startups involved in AI development and deployment, offer a comprehensive view of the tech industry's perspectives on strengths, weaknesses, and the path forward regarding RAI adoption.
The report underscores the growing recognition among AI stakeholders about the crucial need for Responsible AI practices. Industry leaders are now channelling investments into advanced RAI tools and strategies while emphasising the importance of transparency in AI practices. As businesses enhance their AI capabilities, they concurrently witness an increase in RAI maturity.
Key findings reveal that 60% of surveyed businesses have either attained mature RAI practices or initiated formal steps towards RAI adoption. Meanwhile, 30% reported having a basic awareness of RAI imperatives without a formal strategy. Interestingly, developers exhibited almost twice the likelihood of reporting higher levels of RAI maturity compared to users.
Delving deeper into the data, large enterprises (with annual revenue > 250 crores) emerged as 2.3 times more likely than startups and 1.5 times more likely than SMEs to have matured RAI practices. A significant majority of businesses in pivotal sectors like BFSI, TMT, and Healthcare are progressing towards satisfactory levels of RAI maturity.
A critical aspect highlighted by the survey is the pivotal role of workforce development in ensuring robust RAI implementation. Approximately 89% of businesses with matured RAI practices and policies affirmed their commitment to ongoing investments in workforce sensitisation and training for RAI compliance. Even among businesses with lower RAI maturity, over 60% expressed their dedication to improving compliance through similar investments.
Leadership support emerged as a linchpin for successful RAI adoption, with 69% of respondents indicating that C-suite executives or the board of directors should bear the major share of accountability for RAI compliance.
Debjani Ghosh, President of Nasscom, commented on the findings, stating, "The year 2023 marked the ascendancy of AI, presenting both opportunities and risks that are integral to its adoption. The insights from the survey are poised to shape robust industrial policies and strategies, fostering compliance with Responsible AI. As India positions itself as a global hub for AI, these insights will guide AI governance and regulations that strike a balance between innovation and ethical principles."
However, the road to widespread Responsible AI adoption is not without challenges. Technical, commercial, and regulatory hurdles pose obstacles to large-scale implementation. Trust and transparency in AI development remain paramount, but the lack of access to high-quality data and a shortage of skilled technical and management personnel stand out as the most significant barriers to RAI implementation.
As the industry evolves in tandem with technological advancements, Nasscom remains committed to collaborating with various stakeholders, aiming to create frameworks and tools that facilitate extensive skilling and training on RAI compliance.