OpenAI has made its first hire in India as it seeks to shape the country’s AI regulations. Pragya Misra, a seasoned public policy and partnerships professional, has been recruited by OpenAI to lead its initiatives in India. Misra will start her new role at OpenAI towards the end of the month.
Misra previously worked with Truecaller and Meta. At Truecaller she served as director of public affairs, where she played a crucial role in the company’s efforts to fight cyber fraud and promote digital safety In collaboration with Delhi Police. Before that, she also led WhatsApp’s campaign against misinformation in 2018. Misra’s expertise in public policy and partnerships will help OpenAI navigate India’s complex regulatory landscape.
India is a crucial market for AI companies, given its huge population and growth potential. However, the country’s regulatory environment for AI is still evolving, making it essential for companies like OpenAI to engage with policymakers and regulators early on.
in March 2024, The Government of India has issued an advisory Platforms are asked to seek express permission from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) before deploying software or algorithms to Indian Internet users. The advisory also asks intermediaries or platforms to ensure that their systems do not allow any bias, discrimination or threat to India’s sovereignty and integrity.
India is also a member of Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)who presented her work on responsible AI, data governance and the future of work, innovation and commercialization at the GPAI 2023 Summit in New Delhi.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the potential of AI and its benefits for India’s tech ecosystem, especially among the youth, many of whom were early adopters of ChatGPT. Altman also emphasized The need to regulate larger players while allowing smaller companies and startups to operate unregulated to allow them to flourish.
Through Bloomberg (paywall)