NEW DELHI, Oct 9: Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communication, said today that India’s innovations are not about technology for technology’s sake-they’re about transforming lives.
Addressing the ‘International AI Summit’ organized on the sidelines of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 here, the Minister highlighted how digital technologies are reshaping everyday life.
He noted that UPI has made seamless payments universal, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has opened e-commerce opportunities for small sellers and AI-powered alert system saved over 500,000 during 2024 Kerala floods.
Citing the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) AI-driven Fraud Risk Indicator, which blocked 4.8 million scams and prevented losses of Rs 140 crore, he said, ” These innovations exemplify how India uses AI to empower, protect, and uplift its people.”
While recognizing AI’s transformative potential, Chandra Sekhar cautioned against these unchecked risks and said, ” Deepfakes are undermining democracy.”
The Minister also highlighted that more than 50 fake videos circulated during the 2024 elections, spreading misinformation and eroding trust in public discourse.
Highlighting the issue of algorithmic bias, the Minister said, ” AI hiring tools rejected 40pc more women in IT jobs, and lending algorithms denied rural applications quickly.”
‘Algorithmic Bias’ refers to the systematic and repeatable production of unfair outcomes by an algorithm, leading to discrimination against a certain group of people.
Chandra Sekhar also drew attention to the risks of automation and privacy violations, warning that by 2030, 15-30pc of jobs in IT and manufacturing could face displacement.
He pointed out that facial recognition systems have misidentified minorities with up to 80pc error rates, while in healthcare, AI misdiagnosed 20pc of tuberculosis cases in Uttar Pradesh hospitals-underscoring the danger of opaque, unaccountable systems.
The Minister also urged governments, industries, and citizens to act decisively and outlined a five-point framework for responsible AI governance (i) Combat Bias, (ii) Protect Jobs, (iii) Safeguard Privacy, (iv) Ensure Transparency (v) Lead with Ethics.
He reaffirmed India’s commitment to developing AI that is trustworthy, inclusive, and human-centric.
The International AI Summit brought together global experts, policymakers, and innovators to deliberate on the future of AI, its societal impact, and frameworks for responsible deployment.
(UNI)
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