IIT Madras Study Advocates Participatory AI Governance Model for India and Beyond

IIT Madras and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy call for participatory AI governance in India and globally. Check details here

IIT Madras Study Advocates Participatory AI Governance

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, Delhi, have published a study advocating for participatory approaches in the development and governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India and globally. The study highlights key reasons why involving diverse stakeholders in AI development can enhance algorithmic outcomes and improve the fairness of the governance process. Through real-world case studies and interdisciplinary collaboration, the research underscores the significance of a participatory approach in AI governance.

As AI increasingly automates operations across various sectors, the decisions involved in its setup and execution can become opaque, complicating accountability and transparency. This study emphasizes the importance of engaging relevant stakeholders in designing, implementing, and overseeing AI systems. Conducted by researchers from the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras, in collaboration with Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, this two-part study brought together technologists, legal experts, and policy researchers to explore the impact of participatory approaches on responsible AI governance.

Highlighting the need for such studies, Prof. B. Ravindran, Head, Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (WSAI), IIT Madras, said, “The widespread adoption of AI technologies in the public and private sectors has resulted in them significantly impacting the lives of people in new and unexpected ways. This study found that persons who will be impacted by the deployment of these systems have little to no say in how they are developed. Seeing this as a major gap, this research study advances the premise that a participatory approach is beneficial to building and using more responsible, safe, and human-centric AI systems.”

Further, Prof. B. Ravindran, also the Head of Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI), IIT Madras, said, “The recommendations from this study are crucial for addressing several pressing issues in AI development. By ensuring that diverse communities are included in AI development, we can create systems that better serve everyone, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented. Increasing transparency and accountability in AI systems fosters public trust, making it easier for these technologies to gain widespread acceptance.”

Elaborating further, Shehnaz Ahmed, Lead, Law and Technology, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, said, “Increasingly, there is a recognition of the value of participatory approaches in AI development and governance. However, the lack of a clear framework for implementing these principles limits their adoption. This report addresses critical challenges by offering a sector-agnostic framework that answers key questions such as how to identify stakeholders, involve them throughout the AI lifecycle, and effectively integrate their feedback. The findings demonstrate how participatory processes can enhance AI solutions, particularly in areas like facial-recognition technology and healthcare.”

Recommendations for Implementing Participatory AI

• Adopt a Participatory Approach to AI Governance
• Establish Clear Mechanisms for Stakeholder Identification
• Develop Effective Methods for Collating and Translating Stakeholder Input
• Address Ethical Considerations Throughout the AI Lifecycle
• Prioritize Human Oversight and Control

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