Addressing the Fear: Why Politicians Worldwide Are Concerned about the Growth of Artificial Intelligenc

Introduction: 

Artificial intelligence (Ai) has rapidly emerged as a transformative force that holds tremendous potential for changes in various sectors, industrial and personal. However, this remarkable growth has also instilled a sense of fear and concern among politicians across the globe. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this fear and discuss the importance of educating citizens to help them better understand the life-changing effects of Ai.

1.   Job Displacement and Economic Impact: One of the primary concerns that politicians have regarding Ai is the potential for significant job displacement. As Ai technology advances, automation becomes more prevalent, leading to fears that many current job roles would become obsolete. Policymakers worry about the economic impact of widespread job losses, potential social unrest, and the need for re-training and up-skilling programs to ensure a smooth transition into the Ai driven economy.

2.   Ethical Considerations and Bias: Ai systems are only as good as the data they are trained on, and biases within the data would lead to biased outcomes. Politicians are apprehensive about the ethical implications of Ai, particularly in critical areas such as criminal justice, healthcare, and public services. They fear that without proper oversight and regulation, Ai systems may perpetuate existing biases or create new ones, leading to discrimination and unequal treatment, beyond those already created by various political decisions.

3.   Security and Privacy Concerns: The growth of Ai also raises concerns about security and privacy. Politicians worry about the potential misuse of Ai for surveillance, cyberattacks, or deep-fake technologies. There would be a need for robust legislation and safeguards to protect individuals' privacy rights and prevent Ai-related threats to national security.

4.   Lack of Understanding and Public Awareness: One significant challenge in addressing the fear of Ai lies in the lack of understanding and public awareness. The average person may perceive Ai as a mysterious and potentially threatening technology due to its portrayal in popular culture. Policymakers must recognize the importance of educating the public about Ai to dispel misconceptions, foster informed discussions, and encourage citizen engagement in shaping AI policies.

How to Educate Citizens about Ai:

a. Integrate Ai Education in Schools: Incorporating Ai-related concepts and ethics into the curriculum can help familiarize students with the technology from an early age. This approach cultivates digital literacy and encourages critical thinking about Ai's benefits and risks.

b. Public Awareness Campaigns: Governments, academia, and industry leaders can collaborate on public awareness campaigns to promote a better understanding of Ai. These campaigns should emphasize the positive impact of Ai, debunk myths, and address concerns, enabling the fostering of a more informed and receptive public.

c. Public-Private Partnerships: Governments can and should forge partnerships with Ai companies and research institutions to develop educational programs, workshops, and public forums. These initiatives can provide citizens with opportunities to engage with Ai experts, ask questions, and gain insights into Ai's potential.

d. Transparent Regulation and Policies: Policymakers should prioritize transparent and inclusive policy-making processes. Citizens should have the opportunity to voice their concerns, contribute to the development of Ai regulations, and ensure that policies align with societal values and aspirations.

The fear surrounding the growth of artificial intelligence is a complex issue that policymakers worldwide must address. 

By understanding the reasons behind politicians' concerns and implementing effective education initiatives, leaders in Ai technology can help politicians and citizens navigate the transformative impact of Ai. By fostering a knowledgeable and engaged citizenry, together we can shape Ai policies that prioritize ethical considerations, safeguard privacy, and ensure that the benefits of Ai are accessible to all.

 

 

 

Temples of Doom: Foreign Universities in India!

 On 5^th January of this year, the UGC (university grants commission) announced the draft regulations for ‘setting up and operating campuses of foreign higher educational institutions in India’, in pursuant to the New education policy [NEP] 2020; whereby such (foreign) universities will be given the freedom to decide their governance and content norms on par with autonomous institutions of India.

This basically seems to indicate that foreign universities will have the freedom to devise their own curriculum and admission process. The draft resolution states that fees have to be ‘reasonable and transparent’, which is rather ambiguous and open to any interpretation. The other parts of this draft deals with annual reports, maintaining accounts and most importantly, empowering the UGC to inspect, regulate, interpret and also terminate the permissions of foreign universities to operate in India.

This entire proposal is based on a series of self-delusional thought processes by the bureaucrats of the UCC.

Firstly, education in India is the cash-cow of politicians who own and operate private institutions and universities without having to bother with the quality of education delivered or the skill sets mastered by the graduating students of such ‘temples of learning’. Beyond that, political interference is a regular feature in government run educational institutions. Does the UGC really expect that politicians will not only allow better standards of competition against their business of education, but that they will not interfere in the functioning of the foreign universities? The very premise of freedom to operate in India has already been negated by the UGC itself by self-empowerment of the UGC “to inspect, regulate, interpret and also terminate the permissions of foreign universities to operate in India.”

The next issue that the UGC has failed to clarify is their policy towards reasonable and transparent fees. As per this draft policy, foreign universities are required to set-up world class physical facilities in India, which means a heavy investment in land acquisition and construction. Land values in India are unjustifiably high due to faulty land policy and political corruption. The lengthy, complicated and expensive ‘approval process’ for construction has been designed to ensure that land supply remains constrained and prices remain high. The other factor is ‘greasing the wheels’ of government officials at every stage. European and American laws prohibit their citizens from indulging in corruption and they can be severely punished when malfeasance is discovered. A recent example is the EU Vice-President who was removed from office and arrested for corruption. Does the UGC really believe that foreign universities will indulge in corruption, just because it’s our bureaucratic culture? Taking everything into account, and the expectations of foreign universities for a quick RoI (return on investment), the fees the students will be expected to pay might be prohibitive for the majority of Indian students.

How about the issue on reservations and quota? Foreign universities are unlikely to compromise on the quality of their student intake or offer discounts in their fee structure. In January 2019, the Narendra Modi government amended the Constitution of India to ensure 10% reservation in admissions to the economically backward among upper castes (in addition to the other reservation categories already in existence for the backward castes and minorities), and announced that these reservations will be extended to private universities as well as public ones. With deep discounting in the fees by government mandate, private universities will have to basically write-off fees from the reserved seats, thereby affecting their financial income negatively. Will the UGC make this policy mandatory for the foreign universities they are inviting into India?

Another point that will become contentious is that English language will be the preferred language of delivery of curriculum in foreign owned universities. This will create agitation among local politicians who will protest that the imposition of English would give it enhanced importance and revert society to the yesteryear of the British raj.    

The cultural impact of foreign universities being allowed to operate in India is a dangerous proposition. Racism against Indians is prevalent in various US academic institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, while the universities of Berkeley, Emory, Toronto, Goettingen, and the University of Illinois; had no hesitation in sponsoring and promoting the conference on “Dismantling Global Hindutva” that had been announced from 10-12 September 2021. This politically prejudiced campaign was promoted as an ‘academic event’, and was reportedly co-sponsored by over 50 American universities, including Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Northwestern University and New York University. Rutgers University regularly sponsors and pays the anti-India activist Audrey Truschke for her systematic attacks on the culture of India, while Prof Meena Dhanda of Wolverhampton University has openly called for the annihilation of Brahmins of India, and the university has supported this view by refusing to take any disciplinary action against her. Has the UGC bureaucrats taken into consideration, this anti- India hatred that is prevalent in foreign universities, before proposing the draft regulations for ‘Setting up and operating campuses of foreign higher educational institutions in India’?

The other most important aspect is the reason that certain sections of Indian students take admissions in universities abroad, is migration and settlement in foreign countries. These students are either from rich families or their families take huge loans just for the singular purpose of settling their children abroad for, as per their view, a better and richer lifestyle. Why will students consider studying in foreign university campuses in India, if it does not fulfill the critical requirement of migrating and settling abroad?

Finally, India should be the leader in international education by increasing the standards through our own resources and becoming a global higher education destination with our own capabilities, rather than off-loading this important responsibility onto foreign universities.

Disclaimer: This article is a 100% human effort and has not been generated using artificial intelligence!