Major Vineet Kumar, a noted cyber expert and founder of Cyber Peace Foundation speaks to STOI’s ASRP Mukesh on Jharkhand’s potential in AI, challenges associated with it and way ahead. Excerpts:Q: AI (Artificial Intelligence) is the next big thing which every country is eyeing to tap now. What’s your take on that?A: True. AI is the future. The recent international AI summit hosted by India in Delhi is a step towards our country positioning itself as the global destination for AI-enabled innovations and solutions. In this journey, every state must be part of. The sooner you catch the bus, the better it is for the overall development of your state and populace.Q: How much potential does Jharkhand have in this sector?A: Jharkhand has infinite potential and is ideally placed to become one of the key players in this sector. The state already has a good industrial base. Setting up of data sets would require land, which is also available in our state. We also have a young work force, who can be involved in data centres, thereby creating scores of jobs. Weather, too, is apt here vis-a-vis other states for setting up of data centres.Q: There are also talks about Net Zero.A: Yes. Here too, Jharkhand can cash in given the kind of vegetation and forest cover the state has. When you facilitate setting up of heavy data centres, it will also lead to release of carbon footprints. Using the state’s green cover and other innovative ways, the state can also generate and earn carbon credits and can be sold in international markets.Q: What role should the state play to promote AI-enabled industries?A: Just be an enabler and not a disruptor. Global firms are looking for tier II and III towns to invest in. A young state like Jharkhand, which still hasn’t tapped its full potential, needs to become a good enabler by simplifying the processes, providing good incentives to woo them and ensure steady power facilities.Q: Has there been a rise in security concerns?A: We have already started to see a new trend in cyber and digital crimes using AI modules. Many countries have already started working to plug those gaps. However, one should discourage AI due to security fear but work towards making it more secure. Using AI positively, we have already started detecting many cybercrimes. Whenever you deploy AI for large scale processes, you must always have guardrails manned by human intelligence.
