AI and Us: Decision Making Should Not Be Outsourced to AI

AI and Us: Decision Making Should Not Be Outsourced to AI

AI literacy should become as important as digital literacy. An informed user is ultimately the first and most effective line of defence against blindly accepting what a machine tells us.  

The Dangers of AI Bypassing the Human Mind: Can Indian Knowledge Systems provide a moral anchor for modern technology?

Rather than relying only on Western compliance checklists, AI development can be anchored in Atma-Bodha (self-awareness), training engineers to recognise how their algorithms alter human consciousness and social behaviour. 

The Expanding Space Frontier: Can India Live Up to Its Challenges?

Biological systems behave very differently in orbit. Space research could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment, Alzheimer's therapies, protein crystallisation and even advanced prosthetics such as artificial retinas.

From Hashtags to Handcuffs: When Digital Democracy Becomes Digital Surveillance

India therefore needs a serious conversation on algorithmic accountability. If AI increasingly informs policing, citizens deserve clarity on its legal basis, safeguards against misuse, limits on data retention, independent oversight and effective judicial remedies. 

More on AI, Tech and Innovation

India lends 'a helping hand'; extends $500 million line of credit to Sri Lanka as power plants run out of fuel

India on Tuesday extended a $500 million line of credit to Sri Lanka for the import of fuel as a couple of power plants in the island country ran out of fuel amid a severe foreign exchange crisis

Amid economic crisis, Sri Lanka seeking fuel from India to run power plants

Sri Lanka has been exploring the option of procuring fuel, required for the operations of power plants, from India as regular supplies are affected amid a severe foreign exchange crisis

India to extend $1.5 billion lines of credit to Sri Lanka; Jaishankar dials Finance Minister Basit

India will extend $1.5 billion in additional lines of credit to Sri Lanka, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed on Saturday, assuring the island country of its continuous “support in all possible ways for overcoming economic and other challenges”

IMF Board approves $395 million credit assistance for Nepal to mitigate Covid-19 impact

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board has approved a $395.9 million extended credit facility (ECF) for Nepal to help it mitigate the pandemic’s impact on health and economic activity, supporting sustained growth and poverty reduction among others

India extends $900 million ‘facilities’ to ailing Sri Lankan economy

India has extended $900 million facilities to Sri Lanka, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said,  as the island country has been going through its worst economic crisis, with record low foreign exchange reserves and food shortages

Sri Lanka may see sovereign default, says S&P, downgrades rating to 'CCC' with negative outlook

After Fitch Ratings, Standard and Poor's has now downgraded Sri Lanka’s sovereign ratings to ‘CCC’ with a negative outlook from an earlier ‘CCC+’ as its currency continued to be under pressure, indicating the island country may see a sovereign default scenario this year, a prospect the country’s central bank denied

UK announces start of FTA negotiations with India; Johnson lists Scotch whisky on top of sectors to benefit

The UK government on Thursday announced the launch of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, describing it as a "golden opportunity" to put British businesses at the "front of the queue" of "India's booming economy" and its fast-growing segment of "250 million shoppers"

Nepal Telecom to begin delayed 5G trials in June

Nepal will begin its first 5G internet services trial in June, almost after a delay of over a year, which will cover both urban and rural areas, officials said

Rape, abduction derail tourism in Bangladesh’s beach town of Cox’s Bazar, local economy impacted

In any normal new year, hotels and guesthouses in the beach town Cox’s Bazar would be booming with tourists and visitors

Indians topped Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals in 2021

Tourists from India dominated Sri Lanka’s tourism market last year, contributing almost 23 percent of the total 194,000 tourists who visited the island country in 2021

PM Imran Khan launches Pak-China Business investment forum to fast-track investments

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched the Pakistan-China Business Investment Forum to fast-track project approvals and investment proposals from Chinese investors

Inflation wrecks havoc in Pakistan; touches 12 percent in December

The inflation rate in Pakistan reached a new level last month, recording 12.3 percent in December— the highest in the last two years, as experts warn of more trouble in the weeks ahead of the government’s mini-budget

Sri Lanka finalizes Trincomalee oil farm deal with India, agrees to extend lease of 14 oil tanks for 50 years

In a deal with considerable strategic significance for South Asian geopolitics, Sri Lanka will extend the lease of 14 oil tanks in Trincomalee oil farms to India for 50 years, Lankan Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said on Friday, adding the deal, which will also include the joint development of 61 other unused tanks, will be signed next week

India needs a precise startup policy for defence manufacturing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted India's growing involvement of youth in defence-related startups

Sri Lanka’s forex increases to $3 billion; former PM urges government to approach IMF

Sri Lanka’s foreign reserve exchange reached $3.1 billion dollars in December, up from $1.5 billion recorded last month, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka informed on Wednesday