BANGALORE, INDIA - Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is gaining momentum, and new use cases are continually being explored worldwide. With the increasing relevance of artificial intelligence (AI) in people’s daily lives, unexpected adverse effects associated with the rapid evolution of technology must be minimized while ensuring tech enhancements benefit individual citizens across all strata of society.

Regulating AI poses unique challenges in emerging economies like Brazil, China, India, South Africa etc., not present in Western countries due to their rapid pace of technological advancement and diverse socioeconomic contexts. Ensuring the safe and ethical use of AI is a new challenge for these countries, which is also increasingly being prioritized. To ensure equitable, safe, and beneficial progress to the maximum extent, nations must adopt a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to the regulation of AI. This is relevant for developed countries as well but can be harder in emerging markets because of their fast-changing nature and (sometimes) less robust legal systems. These countries must, therefore, foster stronger legal frameworks, forge international collaborations, and nurture a culture of ethical AI development in continuation with cross-border consultation with an element of flexibility. This becomes imperative because as tech evolves and economies grow, regulations must also be flexible and amenable to constant tweaking to cater to the emerging needs of society with time.

A solid legal framework is the bedrock of AI regulation

Stringent data protection laws are essential to safeguard personal and other sensitive information, especially of the socioeconomically disadvantaged - which are usually more vulnerable and less educated. This is quite urgent, especially in countries with lax privacy laws. Such legislation must address data c