Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Technology
In News
- The Technology and Innovation Report 2025 released by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Technology and Innovation Report
- It surveys the complex artificial intelligence landscape, aiming to help decision makers design science, technology and innovation policies that foster inclusive technological progress
- It analyses the requirements and policies needed at all stages, from development to adoption, to foster inclusive technological progress for sustainable development.
Findings
- The U.S. leads in private AI investments, contributing 70% of global AI investment in 2023.
- India, China, and Brazil contribute significantly to AI advances and the production of AI-related scientific knowledge.
- Brazil has a significant talent pool of 4 million developers.
- China and the U.S. dominate in cloud infrastructure services, with India and Brazil also making notable contributions.
| Do you know? – Countries are specializing in specific technological domains: Germany in wind energy, India in nanotechnology, Japan in electric vehicles, and South Korea in 5G technology. – Industrialization in developing countries (e.g., Brazil, China, India) has been key to reducing poverty and driving economic growth, providing jobs in multiple sectors. |
India’s Position
- India ranks 10th globally for private AI investments in 2023, with $1.4 billion.
- India is one of the only developing countries with significant AI investments, along with China (2nd place with $7.8 billion).
- India ranks 36th in the Readiness for Frontier Technologies index (improved from 48th in 2022).
- India has around 13 million developers, making it a major contributor to AI and GenAI projects.
Concerns
- It highlights growing inequality in the AI landscape, with just 100 companies controlling 40% of global private R&D investment, primarily from the US and China.
- 118 countries, mostly from the Global South, are excluded from global AI governance discussions
- AI could impact up to 40% of global jobs, offering productivity gains but also raising concerns about automation and job displacement.
- AI could widen inequality, but it can also create new industries and empower workers if governments invest in reskilling and workforce adaptation.
| India’s Initiatives – India has invested in AI education through the establishment of centers like IIT Hyderabad and IIT Kharagpur. – The India AI Mission (approved in 2024) aims to reduce entry barriers to AI programs and increase AI courses in smaller cities. |
Conclusion and Way Forward
- Countries with large populations like India and China have an advantage in AI development due to their large developer pools, positioning them favorably in the global AI landscape.
- For developing countries to avoid being left behind, UNCTAD advises focusing on three key areas: infrastructure, data, and skills.
- This involves improving internet and computing power, ensuring access to diverse datasets, and strengthening education systems for digital skills.
- The report calls for global collaboration, including creating a shared AI resource facility and establishing a public disclosure framework for AI.
- The goal is to ensure equitable access to AI and promote inclusive human development.
Source :TH
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