Contributors: Arohi Pathak, Parneet Kaur, Sharanya Chowdhury
Introduction
India’s AI market is on a steep growth curve one report projects it will triple to about $17 billion by 20217 and most business leaders see AI as vital to staying competitive. In fact, 79% of leaders say AI is critical for competitiveness, yet 60% are concerned their company lacks a clear AI strategy. At the same time, public concern is mounting: a World Economic Forum study finds 75% of people now worry about AI’s ethical risks like bias, privacy invasion, job loss, etc. Not to forget, AI can quickly escalate from a driver of innovation to a source of harm. The risks are already visible, unauthorized deepfakes impersonating individuals privacy breaches where personal data is harvested without consent to train models and cybersecurity threats where AI powers sophisticated attacks against organizations. Unchecked AI can also lead to discrimination in hiring, undermining the right to equality, autonomous systems acting without oversight, endangering safety; and even national security concerns through the misuse of AI in cyber warfare.
In India, policymakers are already signaling future AI rules. For example, a March 2024 MeitY advisory requires platforms to clearly label AI-generated content and implement safeguards against misuse. Rather than wait for laws to be passed, leading organizations can self-regulate by establishing internal AI governance now setting a responsible, ethical framework that aligns with values and stakeholder trust.
Top AI Risks Organizations Must Address in 2025
- Algorithmic Bias and Discrimination
- Privacy Violations and Data Leakage
- Black-Box AI and Lack of Explainability
- Deepfakes and Misinformation
- AI Supply Chain Risk
- Autonomy vs Human Oversight
Set a Clear Vision and Tone from the Top
Successful AI governance starts at the top. Leaders should publicly commit to responsible, value-driven AI, treating governance and ethics as important as innovation. Define AI success not just by financial or efficiency gains, but by how AI use upholds your organization’s values and serves stakeholders. Articulate that AI initiatives must also be safe, fair and transparent, and that human oversight and accountability are non-negotiable. When the CEO and board champion this vision, it sets a tone at the top that reinforces everyone’s accountability.
Align with International AI Ethics Principles
Anchor your governance in established global AI ethics frameworks. Many international bodies have issued high-level principles that can guide your policies. For instance, the OECD AI Principles endorsed by 46 countries stress that AI should be innovative yet trustworthy, respecting human rights and democratic values. UNESCO’s AI ethics recommendation similarly highlights transparency, accountability and privacy as core. Common themes to adopt include:
- Safety and Reliability: AI systems should be robust, secure and dependable.
- Equality and Non-discrimination: AI must not perpetuate bias or unfairly disadvantage any group.
- Inclusivity: Treat diverse user needs, avoiding outcomes that harm marginalized populations.
- Privacy and Security: Respect personal data rights; apply strong data protection to AI training data.
- Transparency: Provide clear, understandable information about how AI decisions are made.
- Accountability: Ensure there are mechanisms to audit and address AI-caused harms.
- Human-centric Values: AI should reinforce positive social values
Establish an AI Governance Structure with Clear Roles
Treat AI governance as a formal, cross-functional program not a side project. A common best practice is to create an AI governance committee or working group with representatives from business units, legal, IT, HR, data science, risk management and compliance. Some organizations even have an “AI Ethics Board” to give independent oversight.
Within this structure, assign specific responsibilities. For example, your Chief Risk Officer or compliance team can own overall AI risk management, they’d monitor emerging AI laws, oversee risk and impact assessments, and report on governance performance.
Read Original Article Here:- AI Governance for Organizations: Building Your Framework Before Regulations Arrive