IIT Madras Launches Centre for Human-Centric AI
Wednesday, 27 November 2024, 16:37 IST
IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation has launched a new 'Centre for Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence' (CHAI). This centre is supposed to make use of AI to upgrade human capabilities, which may become a huge opportunity for India. CHAI will work on technology development, entrepreneurship promotion, human resource development, and international collaboration.
As AI continues to advance, concerns about its safety are also growing. A balance between innovation and regulation is very important. The newly established centre will play a very important role in identifying the potential risks and informing future regulations. This will ensure that the AI development in India is both safe and innovative, particularly in the Indian context.
IIT-M Pravartak, the parent organisation of this centre, is already working on projects of National importance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the Indian Parliament and the Indian Army.
The centre was launched at IIT Madras Research Park in the presence of Lt.Gen. KS Brar, AVSM, GoC Dakshin Bharat, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Dr. M.J. Shankar Raman, CEO, IIT-M Pravartak Technologies Foundation, Prof. Gaurav Raina, Chief Scientist, CHAI, students, researchers and other stakeholders.
Setting the expectations for this Centre, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Human Centric AI Systems seem to be the most convincing ones for the end-users to adopt. Developments in CHAI will look at various aspects of deployment of AI systems, specifically from explainability and responsibility points of view”.
Speaking on the occasion, Lt.Gen. KS Brar, AVSM, GoC Dakshin Bharat, said that the centre should focus on Empowering the future where AI serves humanity, enhancing lives and fostering a better world for all.
This new centre will collaborate with Central and State Government agencies, industry, start-ups and academic researchers to deliver solutions that enhance and amplify human potential in India. The solutions developed, and the lessons learned may also be applied in other countries.
The scope of the centre would be around three dimensions: enhancing human potential, protecting citizens and amplifying societal values which are embodied through culture and heritage.
Elaborating further, Prof. Gaurav Raina, the Chief Scientist at the Centre, who is also Faculty, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “The focus of this Centre also aligns with the broad principles of Industry 5.0, which emphasises emphasises human-centricity and sustainability . The focus will be on translational research that leads to impactful solutions in the form of data sets, AI models, tools and AI applications in the areas aligned with the scope of the centre”.
The Centre will provide an opportunity for internships for students across the country to develop their skills on cutting edge AI projects and solutions. Students within IIT Madras will be able to pursue their undergraduate, masters and Phd research projects and thesis with co-guidance from the Centre. This will aid in building capacity for AI talent in the country. To enhance human potential, the applications will include education, healthcare, financial services, transportation, and legal considerations, among others.
Under the umbrella of protecting citizens, the applications will include aspects like cyber-security, cyber-fraud, and disinformation security. Such applications will also be important for strengthening democracy. For culture and heritage, we hope to preserve, revive, and widely share our very rich cultural diversity and heritage, aided with tools like AI.
IIT-M Pravartak Technologies is a Section 8 Company housing the Technology Innovation Hub on Sensors, Networking, Actuators and Control Systems. It is funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and hosted by IIT Madras.
As AI continues to advance, concerns about its safety are also growing. A balance between innovation and regulation is very important. The newly established centre will play a very important role in identifying the potential risks and informing future regulations. This will ensure that the AI development in India is both safe and innovative, particularly in the Indian context.
IIT-M Pravartak, the parent organisation of this centre, is already working on projects of National importance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the Indian Parliament and the Indian Army.
The centre was launched at IIT Madras Research Park in the presence of Lt.Gen. KS Brar, AVSM, GoC Dakshin Bharat, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Dr. M.J. Shankar Raman, CEO, IIT-M Pravartak Technologies Foundation, Prof. Gaurav Raina, Chief Scientist, CHAI, students, researchers and other stakeholders.
Setting the expectations for this Centre, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Human Centric AI Systems seem to be the most convincing ones for the end-users to adopt. Developments in CHAI will look at various aspects of deployment of AI systems, specifically from explainability and responsibility points of view”.
Speaking on the occasion, Lt.Gen. KS Brar, AVSM, GoC Dakshin Bharat, said that the centre should focus on Empowering the future where AI serves humanity, enhancing lives and fostering a better world for all.
This new centre will collaborate with Central and State Government agencies, industry, start-ups and academic researchers to deliver solutions that enhance and amplify human potential in India. The solutions developed, and the lessons learned may also be applied in other countries.
The scope of the centre would be around three dimensions: enhancing human potential, protecting citizens and amplifying societal values which are embodied through culture and heritage.
Elaborating further, Prof. Gaurav Raina, the Chief Scientist at the Centre, who is also Faculty, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “The focus of this Centre also aligns with the broad principles of Industry 5.0, which emphasises emphasises human-centricity and sustainability . The focus will be on translational research that leads to impactful solutions in the form of data sets, AI models, tools and AI applications in the areas aligned with the scope of the centre”.
The Centre will provide an opportunity for internships for students across the country to develop their skills on cutting edge AI projects and solutions. Students within IIT Madras will be able to pursue their undergraduate, masters and Phd research projects and thesis with co-guidance from the Centre. This will aid in building capacity for AI talent in the country. To enhance human potential, the applications will include education, healthcare, financial services, transportation, and legal considerations, among others.
Under the umbrella of protecting citizens, the applications will include aspects like cyber-security, cyber-fraud, and disinformation security. Such applications will also be important for strengthening democracy. For culture and heritage, we hope to preserve, revive, and widely share our very rich cultural diversity and heritage, aided with tools like AI.
IIT-M Pravartak Technologies is a Section 8 Company housing the Technology Innovation Hub on Sensors, Networking, Actuators and Control Systems. It is funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and hosted by IIT Madras.
