Prominent thinker Binay Kumar Singh has issued a clarion call to keep artificial intelligence free from political contamination. As Director of the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation, Singh is bullish on AI’s role in India’s journey to becoming a developed nation by 2047. ‘AI’s contributions are invaluable,’ he told reporters, underscoring its momentum in current advancements.
Troublingly, progress faces headwinds from Naxal violence, which Singh openly accused of stalling key projects to manufacture crises. The Centre’s zero-tolerance policy promises total elimination, aligning with societal rejection of barbarism.
Compounding this, Singh dissected the Congress party’s recent AI summit disruptions. Protesters, backed by the opposition, aimed to undermine India’s tech credentials abroad. Rahul Gandhi’s endorsement, dubbing them fearless lions, crossed a line. ‘An apology from him would have been statesmanlike,’ Singh observed ruefully.
The fallout was swift: academics united in a statement blasting the protests as inappropriate and image-damaging. Every segment of society, Singh noted, is vocal in its disapproval. He hammered home the point: AI platforms are sacred spaces for progress, not wrestling rings for politicians.
Congress’s opportunism in injecting politics into tech events is a dangerous precedent. With AI set to propel economic surges, Singh advocated for collective safeguarding. The episode, while regrettable, has galvanized support for depoliticizing innovation, fortifying India’s global tech narrative.