Context: Recently, India joins Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) as a founding member to support the responsible and human-centric development and use of AI.
Background

• Born out of the Canadian and French G7 Presidencies in 2018 and 2019, GPAI was officially proposed by France and Canada at the Biarritz Summit in August 2019. 
• G7 Leaders then officially welcomed the OECD’s willingness to support their work to advance AI. 

About Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)

• It is an international and multi-stakeholder initiative including USA, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore.
• It guides the responsible development and use of AI, grounded in human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth. 
• This is also a first initiative of its type for evolving better understanding of the challenges and opportunities around AI using the experience and diversity of participating countries. 
• In order to achieve this goal, the initiative will look to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.
• In collaboration with partners and international organizations, GPAI will bring together leading experts from industry, civil society, governments, and academia to collaborate to promote responsible evolution of AI and will also evolve methodologies to show how 
• AI can be leveraged to better respond to the present global crisis around COVID-19.
• It is pertinent to note that India has recently launched National AI Strategy and National AI Portal and have also started leveraging AI across various sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare, e-commerce, finance, telecommunications, etc. with inclusion and empowerment of human beings by supplementing growth and development. 
• By joining GPAI as a founding member, India will actively participate in the global development of Artificial Intelligence, leveraging its experience around use of digital technologies for inclusive growth.
• GPAI will be supported by a Secretariat, to be hosted by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, as well as by two Centers of Expertise- one each in Montreal and Paris

India’s developments in the AI field

• India has recently launched National AI Strategy and National AI Portal and have also started leveraging AI across various sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare, e-commerce, finance, telecommunications, etc. with inclusion and empowerment of human beings by supplementing growth and development. 
• By joining GPAI as a founding member, India will actively participate in the global development of Artificial Intelligence, leveraging its experience around use of digital technologies for inclusive growth.

National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• NITI Aayog had published the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in 2019, wherein it identified five core areas for application of artificial intelligence.
• Healthcare: for increased access and affordability of quality healthcare.
• Agriculture: for enhanced farmers’ income, increased farm productivity and reduction of wastage.
• Education: For improved access and quality of education.
• Smart Cities and Infrastructure: For efficient and connectivity for the burgeoning urban population.
• Smart Mobility and Transportation: For smarter and safer modes of transportation and better traffic and congestion problems.