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Artificial Intelligence: Boon and Bane
Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a technological revolution with profound implications for
societies and economies. From transforming governance to posing ethical dilemmas, AI's
dual nature makes it both a powerful tool and a potential threat.
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Good Effects of AI (With Facts & Examples)
1. Economic Growth & Productivity
According to PwC (2017), AI could contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
India’s AI market is expected to reach $7.8 billion by 2025 (NASSCOM 2022).
2. Improved Governance
AI in e-Governance: MyGov portal uses AI to analyze citizen feedback; AI-enabled chatbots
assist in RTI and public grievance redressal.
FASTag system uses AI for automated toll collection, reducing congestion.
3. Healthcare Transformation
AI-based diagnostics: IBM Watson and Google DeepMind assist in cancer diagnosis and
diabetic retinopathy.
During COVID-19, AI predicted outbreak patterns and helped in drug discovery and vaccine
research.
4. Smart Agriculture
AI tools like Microsoft’s AI Sowing App helped farmers in Andhra Pradesh increase crop
yield by up to 30%.
AI assists in pest detection, soil monitoring, and precision irrigation.
5. Disaster Management
ISRO and IBM use AI for flood prediction, satellite data analysis, and real-time alerts.
AI-enhanced drones support post-disaster assessment and relief distribution.
6. Education
AI-based platforms like BYJU’S and Khan Academy use adaptive learning to customize
content.
UNESCO promotes AI to support inclusive education for children with disabilities.
7. Environment & Climate
Google’s AI tool predicts wildfire paths and helps authorities in timely evacuations.
AI is used to monitor deforestation (Global Forest Watch) and track wildlife movements.
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Side Effects of AI (With Concerns & Evidence)
1. Job Displacement
A World Economic Forum (2020) report estimates that AI may displace 85 million jobs by
2025 but also create 97 million new roles—causing transition challenges.
In India, sectors like BPO, retail, and manufacturing face high risk due to automation.
2. Bias and Discrimination
A study by MIT showed that facial recognition systems had an error rate of 34% for
dark-skinned women vs. 1% for white males.
AI hiring tools (e.g., Amazon’s) have shown gender and racial bias due to skewed training
data.
3. Privacy Erosion
India's lack of a comprehensive data protection law increases vulnerability to AI-led
surveillance.
The use of facial recognition by police (e.g., in Delhi) raises concerns over civil liberties.
4. Misinformation and Deepfakes
AI-generated deepfakes were used in political propaganda (e.g., 2020 US elections).
In India, AI-generated fake videos of public figures have gone viral, misleading voters.
5. Cybersecurity Threats
AI is used by hackers for automated phishing, identity spoofing, and network intrusion.
Cyberattacks using AI can adapt faster than traditional defenses (e.g., AI-powered malware).
6. Ethical & Legal Challenges
Who is liable when an AI system causes harm? Existing laws don’t cover “autonomous
agents.”
UNESCO and OECD are working on ethical guidelines, but global consensus is lacking.
7. Digital Divide
Only 43% of Indian households have internet access (NFHS-5), restricting AI benefits to the
elite.
AI may widen rural-urban and gender digital gaps unless inclusively implemented.
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Conclusion
AI has immense potential to accelerate human progress, especially in a developing country
like India. However, without robust regulation, ethical safeguards, and inclusive
infrastructure, AI can deepen existing inequalities and challenge democratic values.
India needs a National AI Governance Framework, public-private partnerships, and AI ethics
in policymaking to ensure AI remains a good servant, not a bad master.
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