India Tech Tracker - March 2024

THE INDIAN EXPRESS | MARCH 31, 2024

Tech giants Microsoft and OpenAI are working towards establishing a $100 billion artificial intelligence supercomputer called “Stargate,” as per a report by The Information. The project, designed in five phases, is currently in the middle of its third phase. According to the report, the acquisition of AI chips will be a significant part of the cost in the subsequent phases. Sources indicate that the project is expected to be completed by 2028.

 

THE INDIAN EXPRESS | MARCH 30, 2024

California-based Varda Space Industries’ small, automated laboratory successfully manufactured ritonavir, a drug commonly used to treat HIV, after several months in space. While speaking to Forbes, chief science officer Adrian Radocea confirmed that the same manufacturing control was maintained in space as on Earth and the drug remained stable on its return. This is a breakthrough that paves the way for the future of in-space processing of medicines that enable the development of novel drugs on Earth and benefit human exploration projects in the long-term. Researchers have previously created cancer drug Keytruda on the International Space Station, finding that it was possible to make stable crystal forms of the drug that could be stored at room temperature and administered with an injection.

 

BUSINESS LINE | MARCH 26, 2024

French aerospace and defense firm Starburst Accelerator SARL is teaming up with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to establish a startup hub with funding support of €100 million. The main aim of this initiative is to support accelerator programs that will enhance the Indian Aviation, Space, and Defense (ASD) ecosystem. The goal is to nurture innovative startups and facilitate their growth to align with global aerospace and New Space initiatives. Startups will be provided with business tools that will help them expand and become future suppliers in the aerospace and defense sectors. In addition, structured programs combining academic knowledge with practical startup guidance through workshops, seminars, and mentoring sessions will help these startups scale and explore international markets.

 

THE HINDU | MARCH 19, 2024

American semiconductor powerhouse Nvidia has unveiled a flagship AI chip, the Blackwell B200. Up to thirty times faster than the previous chip, the new Blackwell GPU has 208 billion transistors, compared to last year’s H100, that had 80 billion. While announcing the arrival of the B200, Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang highlighted the company’s pivotal role in the AI revolution. Recently, Nvidia has also made a shift from selling single chips to selling total systems. Traditionally regarded as a chip maker, it has built a range of software products and tools called microservices that improve system efficiency across a variety of uses.

 

THE ECONOMIC TIMES | MARCH 8, 2024

The union cabinet has approved INR 10,371.92 crore for the India AI Mission in order to create computing infrastructure through public-private partnerships over the next five years. Under the program, startups will be provided with 10,000 GPUs and a marketplace will be created along with a few innovation centers to develop large multimodal models and domain-specific foundational models. The mission aims to democratize computing access, improve data quality, develop indigenous AI capabilities, attract talent, enable industry collaboration, provide startup risk capital, ensure socially impactful AI projects, and promote ethical AI.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST | MARCH 26, 2024

The European Union (EU) is investigating Apple, Google (Alphabet), and Meta Platforms for potential breaches of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Regulators in the EU and the United States have scrutinized Big Tech for anticompetitive practices, which, if proven, could lead to fines of up to 10 percent of their global annual turnover. While tech firms claim to be making efforts to comply with DMA requirements, the European Commission suspects inadequate measures. Concerns include Apple’s questionable compliance with allowing users to uninstall software and change default settings on iOS, as well as limitations on app developers informing users about offers outside the App Store. The investigations, prompted by criticisms from app developers and business users regarding compliance efforts, aim to conclude within a year.

 

MINT | MARCH 19, 2024

Meta, the parent firm of Instagram, Threads and Facebook, said that it was working to tackle the challenge of misinformation ahead of India’s general elections, scheduled from April 19 to June 1. The firm has unveiled a “comprehensive” approach to eliminate voter interference, limit misinformation, and increase transparency and accountability on its platforms. Efforts will include the enabling of an India-specific Elections Operations Centre to implement measures and identify potential threats in real time across the company’s applications. Meta also mentioned that through a voluntary code of ethics signed in 2019, it was working closely with the Election Commission of India by providing a “high priority” channel to flag unlawful content.

 

THE HINDU | MARCH 16, 2024

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) has lifted the mandate that called for large language models (LLMs), and algorithms to seek explicit permission from the government before deployment. On March 1, the MeiTY had issued an advisory that required all AI models, LLMs, and software using generative AI or algorithms that are in the beta stage of development, must seek explicit permission from the Government of India before being deployed for users on the internet. In a new advisory, MeiTY stated that unreliable AI models should be labeled appropriately for Indian users. The revised advisory also called back the requirement for tech firms to submit an action taken report.

 

BUSINESS STANDARD | MARCH 13, 2024

The European Parliament has passed the AI Act, a landmark set of rules marking a significant step in AI governance in the Western world. The Act, noted as one the most comprehensive guardrails on artificial intelligence, will become a law after member states sign off. It intends to address worries about bias, privacy, and other risks from the rapidly evolving technology, and bans the use of AI for detecting emotions in workplaces and schools. It also limits how AI can be used in high-stakes situations like job application sorting. Additionally, the act will place the first restrictions on generative AI tools. While the industry has expressed concerns about regulatory overreach, digital watchdogs argue that the act could do more.

 

THE ECONOMIC TIMES | MARCH 5, 2024

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has faced a setback in its attempt to sell an AI chip tailored for the Chinese market—the U.S. government has blocked the move as part of its crackdown on the export of advanced technologies to the country. The chip, designed to meet U.S. export standards, performs lower than AMD’s chips that are sold outside China. Despite this, U.S. officials deemed the processor too powerful for sale in China, mandating a licensing requirement for AMD from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security.

BREAKING DEFENSE | MARCH 28, 2024

Delegates from sixty countries convened in Washington, DC to discuss new safety measures for military AI and automated systems, following the adoption of the Political Declaration the United States issued last year. The meeting aimed to translate the declaration’s principles into practice and build state capability, said Madeline Mortelmans, acting assistant secretary of defense for strategy in the U.S. administration. The United States, Austria, Bahrain, Canada, and Portugal will collate international feedback for a second global conference next year. These nations will work as part of three working groups, focusing on specific aspects of safe AI use in the military. The first, co-led by the United States and Bahrain, will focus on building automated systems with explicit uses, rigorous testing, and safeguards. The second and third working groups, led by Canada and Portugal, and Austria respectively, will focus on accountability, international humanitarian laws, and other legal concerns regarding AI use in the military.

 

THE ECONOMIC TIMES | MARCH 22, 2024

The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted the first-ever global resolution on artificial intelligence. Proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by China and more than 120 other nations, this nonbinding resolution encourages countries to protect human rights, safeguard personal data, and monitor AI for potential risks while also calling for the strengthening of privacy policies. This resolution is part of a series of initiatives by governments worldwide aimed at shaping the development of AI. These efforts reflect concerns that AI could disrupt democratic processes, increase fraud, or lead to significant job losses. According to U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the resolution provided countries with a foundational set of principles to guide the future development and use of AI.

 

FINANCIAL EXPRESS | MARCH 5, 2024

The second India-France Strategic Space Dialogue was held on March 4 in New Delhi. Led by Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Secretary General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Anne-Marie Descôtes from France, both parties undertook a thorough review of the progress made since its inception, and explored avenues for further collaboration in space exploration and defense. Key discussions included the implementation of a recent agreement on defense space cooperation, capacity building, training initiatives, and commercial space activities. Both nations recognized the significance of industrial cooperation in defense space and emphasized the importance of creating a conducive environment for commercial space endeavors. The dialogue reaffirmed the commitment of India and France to leverage space cooperation as a strategic pillar of their bilateral relationship. Through continued conversation and collaborative efforts, both countries aim to unlock new frontiers in space exploration and innovation while strengthening their partnership in science and technology.

 

THE ECONOMIC TIMES | MARCH 4, 2024

India and France engaged in a bilateral dialogue on disarmament and non-proliferation, covering nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, as well as space security, conventional arms, including AI in the military, and Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems. The dialogue, held in New Delhi, aimed to address these crucial issues and enhance cooperation.

THE ECONOMIC TIMES | MARCH 30, 2024

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will embark on an official visit to the United States on April 10. The visit will include talks with President Biden, a state dinner, and participation in a trilateral summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He is also slated to address the U.S. Congress on April 10. Both countries are expected to announce closer cooperation in high-tech areas, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). According to Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun, Japan and the United States are likely to set up a framework for the development and research of AI, potentially involving companies like Nvidia, Arm, and Amazon. This move comes amid efforts by the United States to restrict the flow of advanced AI chips to China, aiming to prevent Beijing from acquiring cutting-edge technology that could enhance its military capabilities.

 

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST | MARCH 27, 2024

China is all set to host the Digital Silk Road Development Forum in Xian on April 16 to promote its digital economy growth model and support the development of digital infrastructure in partner nations of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Jointly organized by the World Internet Conference (WIC) and the Shaanxi provincial government, the forum is part of China’s efforts to expand global trade through the BRI. The Digital Silk Road initiative was launched in 2015 and serves as the technology arm of the BRI.

 

KYODO NEWS | MARCH 19, 2024

U.S. President Joe Biden will host a trilateral summit in Washington, DC on April 11, bringing together Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This will mark the first of its kind between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, highlighting increased defense cooperation amid China’s aggressive actions in the South and East China Seas and around Taiwan. Ahead of the summit, Biden will meet separately with Kishida and Marcos, with plans for a state dinner in honor of Kishida. The summit aims to strengthen the trilateral partnership based on historical ties, economic relations, democratic values, and a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Discussions will cover security, emerging technologies, supply chains, and climate cooperation. The alliance with the Philippines is seen as crucial for regional stability, particularly in deterring Chinese aggression. Japan and the Philippines both face security challenges from China’s territorial claims, leading to initiatives like the trilateral meeting of top security advisers and agreements to enhance defense cooperation, including improved interoperability of their forces.