Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has urged the parliamentarians of Commonwealth nations to promote responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence while bridging the digital divide with the use of technology. He said this while chairing a workshop at the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in Barbados. Mr Birla said that through cooperation and knowledge-sharing, it can be ensured that technology becomes a bridge, not a barrier. He also highlighted that technological progress and application of e-Parliament has brought about major transformative shifts in the functions of India’s parliamentary democracy. 

Speaking about upcoming digital initiatives, Mr Birla said, real-time AI translation systems like Sansad Bhashini will allow every Member of Parliament to communicate in their own language. He said, under the Digital Sansad initiative, the Parliament has developed an integrated digital ecosystem which connects Members of Parliament, Ministries, and citizens through a single digital platform. He said that India has become the second-largest 5G market in the world, and active efforts are underway on 6G as well. 

The Lok Sabha Speaker further said that Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has turned digital payments into a mass movement. He added that over one million citizens are being imparted free AI training to promote AI awareness and innovation, to make digital connectivity affordable, inclusive, and people-centric.