Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized responsible and ethical use of AI while inaugurating Uttarakhand’s new Centre of Excellence for AI.
Dehradun
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) during the inauguration of a new Centre of Excellence for AI, skill development, and innovation on Tuesday. He said AI can work wonders if used responsibly, but without integrity, it can lead to misuse, as seen in deepfakes and misinformation. “Integrity has no technological substitute,” he emphasized, urging students and researchers to make ethical choices while using emerging technologies.
Dr. Singh stressed that AI should complement human intelligence rather than replace it, advocating a “hybrid model” that blends technology with human judgment. He pointed out India’s rapid rise from being a late adopter of technologies like television to becoming a leader in space exploration and quantum research. Linking academic research with industry and startups, he noted, is key to sustaining innovation. “Every tool has limited value if honesty is compromised. True digital progress comes from combining innovation with integrity,” he said.
Citing practical examples, the minister highlighted AI-enabled telemedicine vans in rural India, where AI-human collaboration delivered healthcare to villages with no prior access to doctors. He also noted AI’s role in improving governance, such as speeding up grievance redressal, but warned that technology alone cannot ensure accountability.
The new Centre, spread over 1.5 lakh square feet, is Uttarakhand’s first of its kind and includes an Apple iOS Development Centre in collaboration with Apple and Infosys. It also houses the state’s first NVIDIA AI and High-Performance Computing facility with an NVIDIA DGX B200 system, featuring 8 GPUs and 1.74 TB GPU memory. Built at a cost of over Rs 10 crore, the facility will support research and innovation in healthcare, agriculture, environment, smart cities, and advanced industries, strengthening India’s AI ecosystem.
