This week marked the launch of the Coalition for Responsible Evolution of AI (CoRE-AI), India’s first major multi-stakeholder coalition dedicated to the responsible development and deployment of AI technology. The coalition, supported by over 30 key tech stakeholders, aims to foster innovation among Indian AI startups while ensuring that the voices of industry, academia, and startups are heard by the government. Hosted within The Dialogue tech think tank in New Delhi, CoRE-AI brings together prominent players from Big Tech, such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), IT giants like Infosys, esteemed academic institutions like Ashoka University and IIM Bangalore, and leading AI startups including BharatGPT creator CoRover.ai and AI music startup Beatoven.ai.
The coalition’s primary goal is to build public trust in AI through voluntary industry guidelines, robust regulatory frameworks, public-private partnerships, addressing bias and fairness in AI algorithms, enhancing transparency in AI operations, and upholding user privacy and data protection.
Mr. S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), stated, “The government welcomes support and interventions from a wide range of players who can provide relevant information. With these inputs, a robust framework will emerge, enabling India not only to benefit from AI but also to play a global leadership role. I am confident that CoRE-AI will contribute to this larger national goal,” he added in a video statement.
With the vision of making AI work for India, the central government’s Cabinet approved the IndiaAI mission in March, allocating a budget of ₹10,372 crore.
CoRE-AI, in its statement to The Hindu, emphasized a “principles-based approach” utilizing risk assessments to address AI’s diverse challenges. It aims to develop guidelines and contribute to a robust governance framework to cultivate a trustworthy and innovative AI ecosystem in India.
The coalition plans to distinguish between regulating AI and promoting responsible AI practices, focusing on establishing overarching principles for ethical AI development and deployment. This approach aims to move beyond merely imposing restrictions on AI technologies, promoting an environment where ethical considerations, fairness, and transparency are integral to AI development.
Additionally, CoRE-AI will explore the impact of market forces on AI adoption, providing clear guidance on demand and governance frameworks to boost confidence and innovation among startups, a key focus of the coalition.
“For AI to be responsibly developed for the collective good, there must be explicit collaboration between startups, capital, policymakers, big tech, academia, and users. Frequent conversations and combined actions are essential to ensure that we innovate with the scale and transparency that AI requires,” said Suparna Singh, CEO and Co-Founder of Frammer AI and former President and CEO of NDTV, and a Member of CoRE-AI’s Executive Committee.
CoRE-AI’s initiatives will be driven by four key Working Groups: Human-centred AI, focusing on prioritizing human rights and societal values; AI and Innovation, promoting and showcasing AI innovation in India; AI Governance, developing frameworks for ethical AI governance; and DPI and AI, exploring AI in government welfare delivery, digital inclusion, and public-private partnerships.
Last year, IBM, Meta, several prominent universities like IIT Bombay, tech startups, and foundations formed a global “AI Alliance,” providing another avenue for responsible AI and potential competition for CoRE-AI. The AI Alliance aims to challenge the dominance of major players like OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon in AI, advocating for open innovation.
Additionally, the Artificial Intelligence Knowledge Consortium (AIKC), launched in March by 12 research institutions and think tanks, is dedicated to promoting a multi-stakeholder approach to AI governance in India.
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