Kalinga Literary Festival hosts session on “Artificial Intelligence and Indian Languages”; Vishwanath Jha, Prof. Jatindra Kumar Nayak, Kedar Mishra joined as esteemed speakers
New Delhi: KLF Bhava Samvad hosted an insightful online session- “Artificial Intelligence and Indian Languages” on 29th April 2023. Acclaimed panelists who joined as esteemed speakers were Prof. Jatindra Kumar Nayak (Eminent scholar and translator), Kedar Mishra (Writer, Critic, and Editor), Vishwanath Jha (Founder and CEO at Saarthi.ai. Lalit Kumar (Columnist, Translator, and teaches English, DDU College, Delhi University) moderated the session.
Shrishti Agarwal from Saarthi.ai introudcued the session. She mentioned KLF Bhava Samvad as an initiative by Kalinga Literary Festival with a widespread popularity. She further told that KLF Bhava Samvad has crossed over a million viewership with versatility and uniqueness eventually becoming a huge platform for languages and literature.
Applauding the advances of the technological intervention, Prof Nayak said that “Artificial Intelligence is making it possible for machines to be sensitive to cultural nuances.” However the lurking possibilities of a negative outset is ever threatening. He expressed his concern over the communication paradigm between human beings which is taking a downhill at the evolution of technical inventions. He opined that Creativity is far too complexed to be reduced to a machine. He sincerely wished these machines will augment the less efficient functionality of humanity and expand the possibilities of language conservation and conversion within Indian territory & without the help of English.
Putting anxieties to rest, Saarthi.AI founder Vishwa Nath Jha explained that we all should be reminded again that AI is a human invention and not the other way around. When we see AI expediting certain procedures, we should know that it is a reflection of our own society. He stated that the AI advancement has come to a point where it can perceive, be it reality or illusion.
Further sharing his cognizance, he said that machine translations are far away from where human skills can reach. It is far from the desired output. With time eventually, AI can go on evolving and improving. He also states that AI is not a complete threat as it has a crucial role in bringing languages closer in a vicinity. “It is more able to imbibe many languages,” he said while recalling his 13 years of experience in witnessing AI’s evolution. He further added that Federated AI protects data privacy and advancement in this field will fasten up now in the wake of LLMs.
Emphasizing on his concern on AI ‘s role, acclaimed poet, writer and critic Kedar Mishra stated that langauge makes things very different. It democratizes the entire process. The biggest danger of AI is it may kill the power of “Byanjana”. He questions – “Who is going to control and use Artificial Intelligence?”He mentions the forthcoming challenge for the democracy of the world.
“Man-machine relationship always welcomes fears of job losses, economic crises and many more. Right to privacy is something pure and taking control over minds through AI is a dictatorial tendency. Should we automate jobs including the fulfilling ones or should we develop artificial minds that will eventually replace human skills. A civilization devoid of human intelligence- Karuna, is my fear,” he states.
He remarks that AI is limited and not limitless like human minds. AI should always remain as a crucial part of natural psyche.