MONOGRAPH

AI, Media, and Technology: Indian Binaries

As we trundle through the temporal repudiation of geo-economic inclusivity and
global networking that would otherwise cost us an arm and a leg, the proliferating leap
in technological integration, innovation adoption, and digital transformation has
changed the trajectory of verisimilitude of sectors, predominantly in the field of
journalism and digital media. The unfathomably ubiquitous expanse of Artificial
Intelligence, which dates back to its chequered advent in the 1900s exponentially
grows by the day with an indelible prowess for Machine Learning that coalesces
computer systems to simulate algorithmic patterns and discern speech and documents
through natural language processing (NLP), eviscerating the involvement of human
assistance. While the facet of super intelligence imbued by Artificial General
Intelligence’s (AGI) impeccability in emulating human beings and their perspicacity is
leveraged by its scalability and computational optimisation, the impugnment of its
autonomy, however, grows murky when one contemplates the inexorability of natural
and physical tools and sources that emphatically conceptualise the systems according
to the palatability of people, which conspicuously makes it the opposite of being
autonomous.

Abstract:
The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), media, and technology has given rise to
a complex landscape of opportunities and challenges in India. This monograph
explores the Indian binaries of AI, media, and technology, examining the dualities that
shape the country's digital ecosystem. This monograph highlights the tensions and
synergies between these three domains through a critical analysis of the current state
of AI adoption, media consumption, and technological advancements in India. It
argues that understanding these binaries is crucial for harnessing the potential of AI,
media, and technology to drive economic growth, social development, and cultural
expression in India.

The Chequered History of AI:

From the novelty of incepting the mechanical gamut of “automatons”, in 400 BCE to
hankering Leonardo Da Vinci’s anthropoid robotic knight in 1495, from entrenching
media in the abstract idea of construing an artificial human brain in early 1900s to
building the first Japanese robot in 1929, from conjuring up the term “artificial
intelligence”, which was born out of Alan’s Turing Test in 1950s to coveting AI’s
burgeoning spate in 1980s with a lucrative investment raked in designing computers
that could translate, and confabulate in diaspora’s common vernacular, from
witnessing the dwindled funding in research inured by acrimonious conceptions in
community, marking the admonishment of AI Winter in 1987 to surmounting the
hiatus by introducing AI system through progressive technocratic acuteness like the
software on Windows computers, and from prophesying the upheaval of AI
development to incorporating it in Google as virtual assistants and search engine tools,
and varied sectors like automobiles, healthcare, and journalism, the vicissitude of
interpolating human cognition into the automated technological continuum has paved
a staggering future for innovative proclivity, and digitalised paradigm of media
synergies.

Introduction:
As we ruminate over the osmosing use of AI in the field of media, the synonymity of
automated journalism and Artificial Intelligence postulates the contingency of
procuring data and information to structure news stories and narratives and
disseminate it with the wanton of underpinning preciseness, objectivity, credibility,
and accuracy by secluding the ambit of human intermediation. Nonetheless, the
interchangeable use of AI and automated journalism marks the perceptible distinction
in their finesse of performance capability and profundity. If AI imbibes the prowess of
human intelligence to comprehend patterns, ascertain natural language, and draw out
inferences and decisions, then automated journalism in juxtaposition to the latter has
the tenacity to leverage technology and algorithmic trends to keep up with boggling
news and generate riveting content to the heterogenous audience, with the acuity to
translate the stories from one language to another, which fixates on the paramountcy
of natural language processing.

The pre-eminence of the sub-fields like natural language understanding and natural
language generation calls for the perceptivity of analysing the dialect or vernacular
accustomed to the human race and producing news content that eludes grammatical
errors, confounding phrases, redundancy of texts, and reiteration of a certain word.
Subsequently, the interjection of the recommender systems that curate personalised
feeds to the viewers and readers, propels the public service broadcasting and
commercial media companies to bat a thousand by optimising the subscribers'
recommendations, and preferences and having them intrigued with suggestions and
news customisable options. Adding to the engrossing tautology of interposing AI in
media, the acknowledgment of relevance, brevity, and astuteness in disseminating
information captivates the discernment of the audience and engages them in
conducive digital experiences and overtures.

To expatiate on the conspicuously seminal influence of AI in the Magnus of Indian

Journalism, the propitious potentialities and susceptibilities that come along with its
unremitting dependency become imperative and tumultuous. One of the preponderant
pros of AI used by Indian reporters has indubitably been to automate data and procure
unerring facts efficiently through machine learning algorithms without being bogged
in the discrepancy of cross-checking statistics, which evade the conundrums of
garnering data from sources that succumb to the ignominy of invidious bias, infidelity,
persuasive manipulation and reprobating dogmatism, making it a cinch to pinch for
journalists to uncover and unravel stories with objectivity, robustness, and exactnesses
that are worth heeding; exhorting the forum to public scrutiny. From articulating
reports to conjuring up articles with eloquence, the automated system of journalistic
penchant bolsters the efficiency, adaptability, and output of news agencies that have a
dearth of writers, reporters, and editors.

The Ambit of Revolutionising AI:

With an exorbitant market size of 28 million dollars, the Indian media industry and
news organisations circumscribing mediums like Print, Television, Radio, and Social
Media have made AI an indispensable part of its cornucopia by espousing
transparency, accreditation, proficiency, and competence in delivering news content
and information with accountability and congruence. It also subsists audience
engagement through interaction and AI-generated chatbots, virtual assistants, and
toolboxes, designed to cater to recommendations and preferential standards of
subscribers that bolster human communication, social interconnectivity, and
coherence. To expound on a few Indian news agencies that use AI-powered tools and
algorithmic patterns to obtain data and analyse it with incandescence are Times Now,
News18, Zee News, NDTV, The Quint, India TV, India Today, CNN-News 18, and
ABP News. To circumvent predicaments like perceptible errors, and data discordance,
and to regiment the automated tasks in newsrooms which would cede journalists the
time to delve into the unrivalled congeniality of content creation, the aforementioned
news agencies in India inure to the propagation of AI, copiously.

In the words of India Today Group’s Vice-Chairperson, Kalli Purie’s presupposition

adulating Indian media group’s first Artificial Intelligence anchor, Sana as “bright,
gorgeous, ageless, tireless” speaks volumes, inviolably on the dogma or the myth that
a robot can cajole a man and cast a spell like in the Spike Jonze film Her, blurring the
propinquity between human and non-human. However, one would vehemently
reprimand the idea and quixotry of introducing AI-powered Avatars as news anchors
to appeal to a particular audience. The predilection of conveying news stories to a
particular target audience, must not derail the news organisation from its gumption to
combat misinformation, emotional intervention, fallacious bias, and influence.

While the news industries are pervasively predisposed to revolutionising AI with the
sanguinity to present news stories cost-efficiently, in multitudinous languages, the
foreseeable entropy of generating erroneous facts that might be misleading, dissuading
and discombobulating may put the agencies in fallacy and jeopardy. The Indian media
industry is admittedly bereft of utilising data with proficiency, creating a chasm of
discomfited comprehension and dilatory in the adoption of AI. While pontificating the
insouciant attitude and complacency that AI can instigate in humans by forfeiting
journalists’ job opportunities, and limiting the ardency of public interest and ethical
oversight, the deplorable ramifications of its omnipresence, alludes begrudging
portents for the future.

The proliferation of smartphones, the internet, and social media has transformed the
way Indians consume information, interact with each other, and access services.
Artificial intelligence (AI), a key driver of this revolution, is increasingly being
adopted across industries, from healthcare and finance to education and entertainment.
However, the Indian context presents unique challenges and opportunities that are
shaped by the country's cultural, social, and economic binaries.

Binary 1: Digital Divide vs. Digital Opportunity

India's digital landscape is characterised by a stark binary: the digital divide between
the haves and have-nots. On one hand, the country has made significant strides in
expanding internet penetration, with over 600 million internet users as of 2022. On the
other hand, a significant portion of the population remains disconnected, with limited
access to digital technologies and the benefits they offer. This divide is not only a
matter of infrastructure but also of socioeconomic factors, such as income, education,
and geographic location.
However, this binary also presents an opportunity for innovation and growth. The
Indian government's Digital India initiative, launched in 2015, aims to bridge the
digital divide by expanding internet access, promoting digital literacy, and fostering a
culture of innovation. Private sector initiatives, such as Reliance Jio's affordable
internet plans, have also contributed to the growth of India's digital ecosystem.
Binary 2: AI Adoption vs. Job Displacement
The adoption of AI in India is a double-edged sword. On one hand, AI has the
potential to drive economic growth, improve efficiency, and enhance decision-making
across industries. Indian companies, such as Infosys and Wipro, are already leveraging
AI to automate processes, improve customer service, and develop new products.
On the other hand, the increasing use of AI raises concerns about job displacement,
particularly in sectors where automation is more feasible. According to a report by the
McKinsey Global Institute, up to 800 million jobs could be lost worldwide due to
automation by 2030. In India, where the informal sector accounts for a significant
portion of the workforce, the impact of AI on employment could be particularly
severe.
Binary 3: Media Consumption vs. Information Overload
The proliferation of social media and online content has transformed the way Indians
consume information. On one hand, social media platforms, such as Facebook and
Twitter, have democratised access to information, enabling citizens to engage with
news, entertainment, and each other in unprecedented ways.
On the other hand, the sheer volume of information available online has created an
information overload problem. The spread of misinformation and disinformation on
social media has become a significant concern, with potential consequences for public
health, national security, and social cohesion.
Binary 4: Technological Advancements vs. Regulatory Challenges
India's technological advancements, particularly in the fields of AI, blockchain, and
cybersecurity, have the potential to drive innovation and economic growth. However,
these advancements also raise regulatory challenges, particularly in areas such as data
protection, intellectual property, and national security.
The Indian government has taken steps to address these challenges, including the
introduction of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, and the establishment of the
National Cyber Security Policy, 2020. However, the regulatory framework for AI and
emerging technologies remains evolving, and the country faces significant challenges
in balancing innovation with regulation.
Binary 5: Cultural Expression vs. Cultural Homogenisation
The intersection of AI, media, and technology has also raised questions about cultural
expression and cultural homogenisation in India. On one hand, digital platforms have
enabled Indian artists, writers, and musicians to reach global audiences, promoting
cultural diversity and exchange.
On the other hand, the dominance of global tech giants, such as Google and Facebook,
has raised concerns about cultural homogenisation, where local cultures and languages
are marginalised in favour of global norms. The Indian government's efforts to
promote digital literacy and online content in local languages, such as Hindi and
Tamil, are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to preserve India's
cultural diversity in the digital age.

Conclusion:

The Indian binaries of AI, media, and technology present a complex landscape of
opportunities and challenges. Understanding these binaries is crucial for harnessing
the potential of AI, media, and technology to drive economic growth, social
development, and cultural expression in India. By acknowledging and addressing
these binaries, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society can collaborate to
create a more inclusive, innovative, and culturally diverse digital ecosystem in India.

As perfervid as AI can get to transfigure the perspicacious sagacity of automated

journalism and Indian media organisations, and vanquish the sophistry of
disinformation upon being trained to insinuate elusively delusive news; the
prevarication of content through infodemic news that is analogical to the portmanteau
of barraging unreliable, fallible and tenuous information like an egregious epidemic,
can transpire to be pernicious for the humankind and defile their trust and reliance in
media. The multifaceted adage of prognosticating the co-existence of humanity and
Artificial Intelligence, in the long run, doesn’t seem to be untenable, given its
augmented ubiquity that overlooks every iniquity.

Recommendations:
1. Bridge the digital divide: The Indian government and private sector should
continue to invest in expanding internet access, promoting digital literacy, and
fostering a culture of innovation.
2. Upskill and reskill: The government and industry should invest in upskilling
and reskilling programs to prepare the workforce for the impact of AI and
automation.
3. Regulate AI and emerging technologies: The government should establish a
robust regulatory framework for AI and emerging technologies, balancing
innovation with regulation.
 4. Promote cultural diversity: The government and industry should promote
digital literacy and online content in local languages, preserving India's cultural
diversity in the digital age.
5. Foster a culture of innovation: The government and industry should encourage
a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and experimentation, enabling India to
harness the potential of AI, media, and technology.
By embracing these recommendations, India can unlock the full potential of AI,
media, and technology, driving economic growth, social development, and cultural
expression in the years to come.