India floats AI plan under which ‘The model travels to the data, rather than the data travelling to the model’

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has proposed a new framework called the "Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) for AI Training" to regulate the flow of data used in developing artificial intelligence (AI) models. This scheme aims to train AI models using local data, preventing them from being solely influenced by offshore model-makers who may not prioritize addressing India's specific issues or ensuring data owners maintain control.

The DEPA framework envisions "Training Data Providers" (TDPs), such as hospitals, banks, and government agencies, sharing anonymized and encrypted data through a "Data Exchange Platform" (DEP). "Training Data Consumers" (TDCs) can then access this data to train their AI models. These DEPs will operate "hardware-based Secure Data Environments" where data remains encrypted and isolated during processing. Additionally, rules set by TDPs will govern how TDCs can use the data.

MeitY's framework emphasizes that differential privacy techniques will be applied to protect individual information, while all activities within secure data environments will be logged immutably for auditing purposes. This ensures both security and transparency in the process. Once implemented, India envisions AI model-makers utilizing DEPA to address challenges in health, financial services, and education.

In healthcare, DEPA could enable the secure sharing of health data to drive innovations in AI-driven diagnostics, drug discovery, and public health management. Financial services could benefit from secure data sharing among India's thousands of banks, potentially extending formal credit to 400 million underserved individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), while also fostering fintech innovation.

In education, DEPA can overcome data interoperability issues, enabling AI-powered personalized learning for millions of students and creating portable skill credentials for India's 250 million students in the $29 billion EdTech sector.

India's government believes that successful adoption of DEPA Training will contribute to inclusive growth and establish India as a responsible leader in global AI development. The framework also aims to shape a more inclusive and responsible global AI ecosystem, as part of India's contribution to global science diplomacy.