'Good funding can help us catch up with advanced AI world'

Artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting life and work, prompting governments and policymakers to take note of its potential and formulate ways to harness its power for greater common good. Last August, the Centre set up a task force to explore the possibilities of using AI for India's economic transformation. The 18 member task force, headed by V. Kamakoti, Professor at the Department of Computer Sciences, IIT Madras, has been asked to come up with suggestions to drive development in AI research, development and applications. The first report submitted by the panel was released recently. K.T.P. Radhika spoke to V. Kamakoti on the task force, its mission, and AI in India. Edited excerpts:

What was the modus operandi of the AI taskforce?

A: We identified 10 domains ranging from manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and food processing to environment and national security which are core to the development of the country. Then we found out the challenges in implementing AI in each of them. We also