Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life, from retail and e-commerce to fraud detection. With scale comes risk. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said on Wednesday that global bodies are now framing ethical standards for AI, and India will adopt them once finalised.

Breakdown

The Global Process:
International committees are preparing standards to guide the ethical use of AI. India is represented in these committees by its experts.
Current Status:
At present, thirty nine global AI standards already exist and another forty five are in the process of being developed. These address issues of fairness, transparency, and risk mitigation in critical applications.
India’s Commitment:
Once these global frameworks are finalised, India will implement them domestically, ensuring that the country’s growing AI ecosystem is governed by internationally accepted ethical norms.

Why This Matters
AI is no longer confined to research labs. It is shaping commerce, consumer protection, and governance. Having global standards reduces regulatory uncertainty, reassures businesses, and ensures that innovation does not undermine consumer trust or create systemic risks.

The Bigger Picture
As AI adoption accelerates across the world, standards are becoming the invisible guardrails of digital economies. By aligning early with international norms, India positions itself as a responsible participant in AI governance while also giving its startups and enterprises a smoother path to compete in global markets.