The whole world has accepted and acknowledged the transformational power of AI. But, at the same time, with the whole rush around the technology, it is the need of the hour to use AI more responsibly while focusing on the sustainability aspect.
We need more insights and guidance from experts and stalwarts from the tech industry to bring about a change and create awareness around sustainability in AI.
In an exclusive conversation with INDIAai’s Research & Content Lead, Jibu Elias, Mr. Dinanath Kholkar talks about his professional journey and his vision on AI as a transformational technology in India.
Mr. Dinanath Kholkar is the Vice President and Global Head of Analytics & Insights at TCS. He is responsible for managing the unit P&L, formulating its strategy, and enabling clients in their journey of Digital Re-Imagination. As a Data and Analytics specialist who has worked closely with client Business stakeholders, he believes that many organizations are yet to realize the power of their data in real-time decision making. Dina has been providing industry leadership to the IEEE Pune section for over 15 years and has been re-elected Chairman of the Pune Section for 2019. He has been named as one of the top 100 most influential people in Data by DataIQ.
Jibu: On career journey so far and the incredible experience of setting up a data mining group at TCS in 1995. A brief intro into data analytics and AI in the early days.
Dinanath: Since the very beginning of my IT career, I was involved with database technologies. I had the record of working in almost all the commercial database technologies back in the 90s. This experience made me think about how this technology can be used for business at TCS. That’s when I started researching data mining and data warehousing. These were upcoming technologies during those days, which later led to the setting up of The business intelligence practice of TCS. We initially started with financial services, which later expanded to other sectors, too, over the years.
Jibu: Back in those days, AI and data analytics were in a nascent stage. Now the technology and even industry have transformed in the last 30 years. We are in an era where AI is going to add billions of dollars to our economy. Would you please explain how your organization’s approach has moved from an overall economic growth to a purpose-led transformation around this technology?
Dinanath: When I moved to TRDTC in 1996, there was an AI group already at TCS which dates back to 1988. I have worked very closely with that group in those days.
At TATA group, sustainability, sustainable development, and community focus are at the core of businesses. We exist because of the community, and we believe that we need to give back to the community multifold. Resultantly the group has always focused on the people dimension, social dimension, and the environment.
We have TATA sustainability group that focus on community impact and environmental impact.
For example, approximately 2500 crores were tabled for the fight against COVID by the TATA trust during the pandemic. In other areas such as education, healthcare, and the environment, we have always focused on balancing profits, people, and the planet.
In a recent development, our Chairman, Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, wrote a book named Bridgital Nation. The book talks about how AI can potentially help address the issues in healthcare and education in a more inclusive manner. The Chairman of the group believes that the future of businesses will be AI and data-led, which is a strong message in itself.
Jibu: In this profit-driven world or a rush-driven world, according to you, What would be an ideal playbook or guidelines ensuring safe, secure, and sustainable AI deployment?
Dinanath: It is important to understand that AI has huge potential however has many challenges too. We need an AI policy where organizations contribute by building thought leadership that would provide guidance around the aspects of sustainable AI practices. Training the algorithms is an aspect that needs a lot of focus to eliminate bias and other issues. Hence, responsible AI should be at the core of most AI adoption.
The recent AI-based research for COVID vaccination exhibits the tremendous power that AI holds towards the benefit of people along with bringing business transformations.
Jibu: How can enterprises ensure that the products they create or the processes they use meet the responsible AI principles.
Dinanath: Again, training the algorithm while keeping diversity and inclusion in mind can bring about a lot of difference. Having a wider perspective and considering scalability, sustainability, diversity, and inclusivity during building AI systems.
In a nation like ours, where there is great potential for AI, we must ensure that the right people are involved in guiding the implementation of AI technology.
Jibu: What are your thoughts on human-AI collaboration driving transformation across various sectors?
Dinanath: Talking specifically around healthcare and education in India, the scalability aspect of any solution plays a critical role. The second wave of the pandemic taught us that technology is important in making people perform their jobs better. AI is there to augment human capabilities and make lives better. An interesting example is AI usage in sports, where an AI-enabled robot can give you the toughest competition right here at your training center without having to travel or even without playing with the champions.
Forget job losses; with the kind of demand for AI solutions and other digital technologies, AI is going to make things easier and efficient to benefit humans and society at large.
Jibu: Honorable Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, wishes to make India a manufacturing hub for AI tools. What, according to you, are the significant challenges that we as a country have to overcome to perform to our utmost potential.
Dinanath: Data availability is the most crucial element here. Industry, academia, and research setups need to come together and collaborate with private and public sectors to utilize the data correctly and productively. Various initiatives from the government, along with investment in research in the academic sectors, definitely act as enablers to making India the global AI capital. We are on the right track, and all we need right now is to channelize these capabilities to make a difference. We have great talent in the country, and we shall focus on what opportunities we provide to them to perform.
Such conversations definitely let aspiring youngsters get the right perspective around the technology. This also creates awareness around ongoing government initiatives and skilling programs. India needs AI education and skilling to start early in order to utilize on the talent advantage that we have.
Source: indiaai.gov.in
