Politics · India Bureau
AI can boost telecom networks but needs strict oversight: TRAI chief
Artificial intelligence holds significant promise for managing telecommunications infrastructure and detecting threats, but its expanding role requires robust safeguards and human oversight to ensure accountability, India's telecom regulator said Monday.
LSN India ·
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti cautioned that as AI becomes increasingly embedded in communications networks, the technology must be deployed responsibly with adequate checks and balances in place. Speaking on the opportunities and risks posed by AI in the telecom sector, Lahoti emphasized that automation and autonomy should not come at the cost of transparency or regulatory control.
"AI creates opportunity, but also requires safeguards through the right kind of governance approach," Lahoti said. He stressed that high-impact systems should retain human oversight and that accountability must not be obscured by automation. The TRAI chief outlined several measures operators and technology companies should adopt, including investing in responsible AI practices, conducting thorough risk assessments, maintaining comprehensive logs of system decisions, and testing models rigorously before deployment.
As networks become increasingly autonomous, human oversight, auditability and the ability for regulators or operators to intervene will remain critical, Lahoti underscored. The regulatory approach should ensure that technology improvements enhance network outcomes without creating opacity in how decisions are made or implemented. This balanced approach aims to harness AI's transformative potential while protecting the integrity and accountability of India's telecom infrastructure.