“Artificial Intelligence is the new electricity” a quote by Andrew Ng — former Baidu Chief Scientist and co-founder of Coursera gives a beautiful insight about what AI is and how it will impact our lives.

I would like to start by dissecting the topic of discussion. The first part is to establish what AI and unemployment really are and second being how closely co-related they are. A quick google search defines Artificial Intelligence as intelligence demonstrated by machines and a plethora of other similar meanings where machines seem to take intelligent decisions. On the other hand, unemployment is not that easy to define. However, the definition given by NSSO can be used for reference here i.e Unemployment occurs when a person who is actively searching for employment is unable to find work.

Now If we compare the data from birth of AI as a field in 1956 to today one can easily infer that the periods where the field of artificial intelligence has sky rocketed, the unemployment rate more or less hasn’t followed the same suit. An argument can be made during the current times but the numbers for the current period also tell the same story.

I would like to bring attention to how AI instead helps to create jobs. The World Economic Forum in 2020 forecasted a strong increase in AI jobs globally over the next 2 years, with new jobs per 10,000 opportunities increasing from 78 today to 123 in 2022.

And fortunately, one of the major sectors to benefit from this is Finance & Auditing. AI has enabled large pieces of the audit process to be automated, but it hasn’t reduced the number of people involved in the audit process. Professionals now can find patterns in the data they would otherwise not see and create better forecasting models. Other Industries adopting AI have seen reduced wastages and savings in time which ultimately making the economy more productive.

Another Argument can be drawn from the past. Jobs which could never be predicted are existing today because of technology. For Eg. Air Hostesses/Pilots, entire Airports and other jobs attached to Aviation industry were non-existent before we made Aeroplanes themselves.

So, what are some of the possible jobs that can be created by the AI revolution?

Jobs directly related like safety and maintenance engineers, machine designers, and ethics re-searchers are some examples. Specialized skills such as data analysis will be needed too.

Jobs indirectly related to AI will also expand, such as educational content related to such fields. Experts will also be in demand as all this needs knowledge and specialization.

And Finally, Humans will be able to focus on doing more rewarding work such as scientific discovery, problem solving, and innovative design. The decline of monotonous jobs will also allow for creative jobs to expand as people have more time to pursue less technical interests.”

Look We might think AI and computer advancements as something really scary but to be honest even with such leaps every year computers are nowhere close to having true intelligence as we possess. All this is because humans have something special, the ability to use knowledge.

Even the most advanced AI systems like IBM’s Watson has more knowledge than most humans, yet all its power is only ultimately used to help humans in decision making. Jobs in the field of Human Resource Management, Software Development, Public Relations and other creative fields cannot be automated. Ever

And lastly to conclude, Electricity might have replaced jobs in candle factories but I don’t think it has added to unemployment woes since.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir to investigate financial links between former DSP Davinder Singh and Pakistan-based terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. Places raided include premises of carpet businessman Sahil Jaroo.

The development comes almost a month after the NIA filed a charge sheet against six persons, including suspended DSP Davinder Singh, in a special NIA court in Jammu. The NIA has named Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu, Irfan Shafi Mir, Rafi Rather, Tanveer Ahmad Wani, and Syed Irfan in its charge sheet, besides Davinder Singh.

The suspended police officer is lodged in Kathua jail at Heeranagar in Jammu division. He was arrested by the police on January 11 on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while transporting two HM terrorists — Naveed Babu and Rafi Ahmad Rather — and a law school dropout Irfan Shafi Mir to Jammu.

The NIA probe revealed that the accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by Hizbul and Pakistani state to commit violent acts and to wage war against India.

Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister DV Sadananda Gowda has said that in the next couple of years, India will be self-sufficient in the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Key Starting materials to reduce import dependency and attain drug security.  

Addressing a webinar organised by a Pharmacy College in Bengaluru, he said, three medical device parks and three pharmacy parks being developed at an investment of 13,600 crore rupees, will make this a reality.

The Minister also informed that 50 new Janaushadhi outlets were opened recently taking the total such outlets to 6500 across 732 districts in the country. He said by the end of this month, all the districts in the country will have Jan Aushadhi outlets.

Janaushadhi outlets sell quality medicines at 50 to 90 percent less rate than the branded medicines. For example it sells sanitary pad for just one rupee. During the previous year Janaushadhi kendras sold medicines worth 430 crore rupees.

Mr Gowda informed that since the last four months during the pandemic period, the public saved 1260 crore rupees by buying medicines in Janaushadhi Kendras.

In the run up to the 74th Independence Day celebrations, AIR brings a special story about Commerce and Industry in the country.

Government’s incessant efforts and policy reforms have changed the world’s outlook towards India. Through path-breaking decisions and special production linked incentive schemes, the government has been able to improve the country’s ranking substantially in terms of ease of doing business.  

India is poised to become world leader in terms of electronic manufacturing especially in the field of mobile manufacturing.  The forex reserves have touched new heights even in the midst of a global pandemic due to impetus on domestic manufacturing while ensuring a robust global supply chain.

Speaking exclusively to AIR News, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Rajiv Kumar said that the reforms in the last 6 years in the country have drastically changed India’s image at global forums. He said with increase in global investment and domestic manufacturing, the government is also credited with stream lining trade imbalances with many partner countries.

Mr. Kumar enumerated the multi pronged approach of the government for coming years which he said will steer the country out of the aftereffects of COVID crisis.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said all issues like excessive rubber deposits, water stagnation and cracks that were red-flagged by the DGCA in the past were addressed and rectified by the Kozhikode airport operator.

In a series of tweets, Mr Puri said raising such concerns is the normal work of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. He said that the aviation regulator strictly ensures that these are complied with and rectified under all circumstances. This was done by the airport operator. His comments came after various news reports stated that the DGCA had issued a show cause notice to the director of the Kozhikode airport in July last year after it found various critical safety lapses in different places including the runway and the apron.

Mr Puri said, an enquiry has been ordered under the Aircraft Act in case of the Kozhikode accident and black boxes of the flight have been recovered and findings of the investigation will be made public.

The Minister asked people to exercise patience and refrain from making speculative observations bordering on the irresponsible. He said he is continuously taking stock of the situation arising due to the accident in Kozhikode and holding meetings with senior officials. 

India and China held Major General-level talks yesterday to take forward the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The talks began at 11 AM at a border personnel meeting point in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) area on the Chinese side of the LAC and concluded at 7:30 PM.

The meeting primarily focused on implementation of certain decisions taken at the fifth round of talks between Corps Commanders of the two armies last week on the disengagement process. The two sides discussed various finer details on taking forward the disengagement process in the friction points where the withdrawal of Chinese troops is yet to complete. 

The Indian delegation at the talks was headed by Major General Abhijit Bapat, General Officer Commanding of the 3 Infantry Division. It is learnt that the two sides also deliberated on having a specific timeline for withdrawal of troops from all the friction points.

At the latest rounds of military talks, the Indian side has been insisting on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to May 5 when the standoff began.