Budget 2019: National AI programme will create mass reach for tech, says CSS Corp

Technology services industry said the government’s proposal for a national programme on artificial intelligence (AI) could democratise the technology and help a wider mass benefit using AI-based solutions.

Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said in the interim Budget today that it has envisaged a National Programme on AI to take the benefits of this technology and as part of this initiative a National Centre on Artificial Intelligence would also be set up.

This centre will work as a hub and will be part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and collaborate with other government-run bodies academic institutions.

“AI is set to revolutionize key sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities and infrastructure,” said Nishikant Nigam, executive vice president and chief delivery officer, CSS Corp.

“A National AI programme will help lend a structure to hold the AI initiatives together and ensure synergistic investment, R&D, and roll out to the masses. It will help democratize AI technologies, and also provide a fillip to the start-up ecosystem for better ideation, creation and implementation of future-ready solutions.”

The government has also identified nine priority areas for the AI programme and national portal would also be developed soon.