The news about KEO, Karnataka's AI-powered 'grassroots' laptop, truly excites me, as it promises to shrink the digital divide. This initiative embodies a vision I have consistently championed over the years: that technology, especially Artificial Intelligence, holds immense potential to empower individuals at every level of society.
Seeing such a targeted effort to bring AI-powered tools to the grassroots reminds me of my reflections on the pervasive nature of AI. My own virtual avatar, www.hemenparekh.ai, launched in February 2023, is a testament to this, as I explored in my blog post Chatbots: Some for Businesses, Some for Humans Chatbots: Some for Businesses, Some for Humans. In that piece, I envisioned a future where AI-powered interactions would become seamless and ubiquitous, from advanced chatbots mimicking human behavior, to 3D volumetric holograms engaging in lively dialogues. The launch of chatbots by companies like IndiGo, with Senior Vice President Summi Sharma (summi.sharma@goindigo.in) highlighting their commitment to enhancing customer experience, was a clear sign of this future taking shape. KEO is a step in that direction, but for digital inclusion.
The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up thoughts and suggestions on the topic of AI's societal impact and its integration into daily life years ago. I had already predicted the pervasive presence of AI in various forms, and even proposed solutions for leveraging it for human benefit. Now, seeing how initiatives like KEO are unfolding, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context of bridging the digital divide and fostering digital equity.
Years ago, I also delved into the broader implications of automation and technology on society, reflecting on Norbert Wiener's insights in my post Norbert Wiener Saw This Coming Norbert Wiener Saw This Coming. Wiener's warnings about the economic equivalence of slave labor for machines and the need for ethical management of technology resonate strongly when we consider the digital divide. KEO, in a sense, offers a counter-narrative, striving to use AI not for exploitation, but for upliftment, ensuring that the benefits of technological advancement are shared more equitably.
The very idea of a 'digital dividend' — a term I've touched upon previously, for example, in the context of topics listed in my blog Simplifying Search Simplifying Search – hinges on such access. Furthermore, for these tools to truly empower, skill development is paramount. My blog Skills to gain Productivity Skills to gain Productivity emphasized the critical need for equipping the youth with necessary skills. KEO, by providing a platform, can be a crucial enabler in this journey, transforming lives through education and access to information.
I believe such initiatives are vital for our progress. By placing AI directly into the hands of those who need it most, KEO has the potential to unlock unprecedented opportunities, foster learning, and truly bridge the chasm of the digital divide. It's a promising step towards a more inclusive, digitally-powered India.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
-----Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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