Initiatives taken to make AI part of higher education: President Murmu

Ranchi: The government is taking measures to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education and is concerned about its impact on the marginalised groups, President Droupadi Murmu said on Saturday.

“The change brought about by AI and other technologies is also reflected in our languages. Till a few years ago, the word ‘disruption’, to take one example, meant something to be worried about. But now it has a positive connotation. A break or an interruption in the normal course is now something to be welcomed,” the President said.

“But as technology creates great disruptions in societies, I believe we should remain concerned about its impact on the marginalised groups. The great opportunities being created should be available to all,” Murmu said while addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesa in Ranchi. She was on a two-day visit to Jharkhand.

Underlining the disruptive impact of the new technology on the economy, the President said, the “coming years are going to be even more dramatic with far-reaching advances expected particularly in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.”

The President's comments come amid growing competition among the countries to develop cost-effective AI models. The success of DeepSeek-R1 model, developed by a Chinese firm, has created a buzz in the technology industry globally. India has unveiled plans to develop its own foundational AI model in the next eight to 10 months.

Amid the race to develop AI models, the President warned about the risk of cyber security and digital gaps. “Often, the problems around us do not need any big technological intervention. Let us not forget the importance of small-scale, traditional solutions. Indeed, innovators and entrepreneurs must not ignore the knowledge base of traditional communities,” she said.