Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government today announced the establishment of an AI Task Force to drive technology-enabled governance and socio-economic development in the state.

The AI Task Force will be chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Science and Technology Department, with the Deputy Director of ICT and E-Governance serving as its member secretary.

Initially constituted for a one-year term, the task force will undergo an annual review to evaluate its scope of work and extend its tenure with necessary enhancements if required.

Members of the task force include the Director of ICT and E-Governance, the Directors of IIT Gandhinagar and IIIT, senior experts from the India AI Mission, NIC, C-DAC, NVIDIA, and ISPRIT.

At the Chintan Shibir held last month, the Chief Minister emphasized a holistic approach to utilizing AI as a strategic tool to enhance decision-making, improve transparency, and address social challenges. This includes adopting a saturation approach for governance improvements. Acting on this vision, the state government has formed the AI Task Force.

Among the matters covered in the scope of work of the task force are:

– Strategic Planning: Preparing a comprehensive A.I. roadmap and strategies for its implementation.

– A.I. Adoption: Identifying the use of A.I. across various government and non-government sectors.

– Policy Advocacy: Ensuring compliance with national A.I. frameworks and policies, including the India.A.I. Mission.

– Collaboration: Partnering with academics, industry leaders, startups, and international A.I. ecosystem participants.

– Capacity Building: Promoting A.I. literacy, resource mobilization, and skill development in Gujarat.

– Data Security: Addressing all A.I. adoption-related matters, including data security.

– Monitoring and Evolution: Monitoring the implementation of A.I. solutions, making course-correction recommendations, and ensuring ethical and effective A.I. practices.

– Technology Infrastructure: Supporting the development of A.I.-enabled infrastructure while keeping data security considerations in focus.

– Custom A.I. Models: Training and mentoring A.I. models specifically designed to meet Gujarat’s unique needs.

– Infrastructure Development: Providing expert advice for the development of A.I.-enabled state data centers and infrastructure.

The Chief Minister has approved the formation of the AI Task Force, and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has issued a detailed resolution regarding its creation.

It is also noteworthy that the state government has recently signed an MOU with Microsoft to establish an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence at GIFT City.

The center will focus on core technologies like machine learning, cognitive services, and bot services. These technologies will be utilized for pilot projects, successful rollouts, and training programs across sectors.

The AI Center aims to provide effective and timely services to citizens, promote grassroots innovation, and drive technological advancements in areas such as manufacturing, healthcare, and education. It will foster collaboration between the government and industries to achieve widespread progress. DeshGujarat