New Delhi, February 16 Union Minister Jitin Prasada urged caution in the use of AI tools on Monday, saying that misinformation generated through artificial intelligence has the power to undermine democratic systems.
Speaking at a session at the AI Impact Summit here, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology also said that artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance learning for students and teachers, but it must not be treated as a shortcut that weakens critical thinking or curiosity.
He emphasized that AI cannot replace teachers and that the risks associated with AI in education must be carefully addressed.
"If you don't focus on digital literacy, then you are vulnerable to cyber threats. Cybersecurity is a major issue, and AI can spread misinformation. And in a country like India, which is truly democratic, and elections are held throughout the year, at the central, state, or municipal level. But if there is misinformation using AI, it can undermine democracies."
"It can change people's minds in a negative way, and once a decision is made, especially in terms of voting, it can be very counterproductive, because you are voting based on false information. So, both we and the government have this challenge," he said.
However, he added that it is not just about the government. The government will make policies and do everything possible to ensure that citizens are safe and their futures are protected.
"But everyone has to contribute," he said.
Highlighting the importance of AI in education, the minister said that this technology should be embedded not just in school curricula but across the wider education framework.
"We have to ensure that this is not merely a subject in a school curriculum. It is much more. We have to equip our young so that they can contribute. It is about capacity building," Prasada said, adding that young people should know about computational thinking and its best use cases.
He added that students should not view AI as a shortcut, cautioning that it must not undermine curiosity, rational thinking, and the learning process.
"It is only a tool to improve their lives and do something faster...As far as education is concerned, we can't have people using AI and someone else doing their homework, especially for young people. It is not a shortcut," he said.
In the long run, using AI as a shortcut will be counterproductive, he said, adding that teachers should also use it as an enabler.
"Some people say that an AI tutor is much better. But that doesn't mean we want to replace a teacher. You can't," Prasada said.
Further, he said that the government is taking steps to ensure that data is available to researchers, innovators, and the domestic industry so that they can come up with models and solutions to transform people's lives.
"We are ensuring that these datasets are available, which are non-personal and safe. And that is the real advantage that India has. We have the data that no one else in the world has to that level, and for AI, as everyone knows, data is the fuel," he added.