AI, Economy and Manifesto Priorities
In a conversation with entrepreneurs at an event conducted by the All-India Professional’s Congress (AIPC), Dr Shashi Tharoor talked on the role of Congress in fostering entrepreneurship and navigating challenges in the age of artificial intelligence.
Dr Tharoor addressed the elephant in the room, on whether the Congress party is anti-business. He argued that the party played a pivotal role in liberalisation in 1991, opening doors for today’s entrepreneurs. While acknowledging diverse opinions within the party, Tharoor emphasised the party’s commitment to economic growth. He underscored the party’s belief in the freedom of entrepreneurs to succeed but advocated using the profits to uplift the poor and marginalised.
Discussing cronyism and monopolies, Tharoor clarified that opposing these practices doesn’t equate to being against business. He expressed the view that a healthy business environment requires fair competition and market transparency.
The conversation shifted to corporate social responsibility (CSR), with Tharoor defending the government’s introduction of CSR obligations. He argued that CSR encourages businesses to contribute to societal well-being, stressing the importance of companies safeguarding the planet and supporting people in addition to generating profits.
The discussion extended to the impact of artificial intelligence on society, with Tharoor acknowledging the challenges posed by fake news and technology. He suggested regulations for AI-generated content, proposing clear watermarking to identify authenticity. Dr Tharoor urged the development of counter-technologies to detect deepfakes and stressed on the need for laws to address defamatory AI-generated content.
The session concluded with Tharoor encouraging entrepreneurs to actively participate in shaping the Congress party’s manifesto, by sharing their insights and suggestions for policies that would support growth and innovation.
