Source: Managing our resources with Artificial Intelligence (The Hindu, March 3, 2024)
Exploring the Dual Faces of AI: A Solution and a Challenge
The term Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gaining widespread attention, stirring both optimism and apprehension among the public. On one hand, AI’s capabilities in healthcare, drug development, and climate prediction showcase its problem-solving potential.
On the other, concerns about job displacement and privacy invasion highlight the challenges it poses. As India progresses, AI’s role in addressing complex, data-intensive problems becomes increasingly crucial, especially in resource management amid climate change.
Q: How is AI beneficial?
A: AI has made significant strides in healthcare by monitoring and treating heart and eye conditions, advancing drug development, and predicting weather phenomena like cyclones and monsoon patterns.
Q: What concerns do people have about AI?
There are fears about job loss to machines that operate non-stop and potential privacy breaches and data misuse.
Q: How is AI contributing to India’s development challenges?
A: AI is positioned as a key tool in overcoming the constraints of resource scarcity, particularly in water management, by aiding in the planning and implementation of solutions like river linking to address the country’s flood and drought issues.
Q: How can AI help in water deficit management?
A: AI tools, used by researchers from IIT-ISM Dhanbad and NITs in Tripura and Goa, have modeled the Pennar-Palar-Cauvery link canal’s impact, demonstrating AI’s potential to inform water distribution strategies to mitigate flood and drought impacts.
Q: What are the benefits of AI in agriculture?
A: AI models aim to optimize agricultural outputs and water usage. The IIT-NIT team’s model, by analyzing extensive data on water levels, crop patterns, and economic factors, suggests that strategic adjustments in crop selection can enhance farm returns while conserving water resources.
This exploration underlines AI’s dual role as both a solution provider and a source of societal concerns, emphasizing its importance in navigating India’s developmental and environmental challenges.