GPAI New Delhi Ministerial Declaration

1. We, Ministers of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), convening in New Delhi on 13^th December 2023:

2. Reiterate our unwavering commitment, since the GPAI Council Meeting in Japan last year, to the principles for responsible stewardship of trustworthy AI and values reflected in the OECD Recommendation on AI, as noted in GPAI’s Terms of Reference, rooted in democratic values and human rights, safeguarding dignity and well-being, ensuring personal data protection, protection of applicable intellectual property rights, privacy, and security, fostering innovation, and promoting, trustworthy, responsible, sustainable and human-centred use of AI. 

3. We further affirm our commitment to continue to work within our respective jurisdictions to advance safe, secure, and trustworthy AI, including, as appropriate, through the development of relevant regulations, policies, standards, and other initiatives.

4. We acknowledge the noteworthy progress and achievements under the leadership of Japan as the 2023 Lead Chair with India as the Incoming Support Chair and France as the Outgoing Support Chair. This includes significant efforts related to the strengthening of GPAI as a diverse and inclusive multistakeholder initiative.

5. We applaud the contributions of the Multistakeholder Experts Group (MEG) towards the GPAI projects. We affirm our commitment to supporting the sustainability of GPAI projects by undertaking the adoption of relevant projects, in line with country-specific contexts and priorities as well as the shared interests and priorities of the GPAI community.

6. We recognize the rapid pace of improvement in advanced AI systems and their potential to generate economic growth, innovation, and jobs across various sectors as well as to benefit societies. We acknowledge the need to harness new opportunities and mitigate the risks arising from the development, deployment, and use of such technologies. This includes concerns around misinformation and disinformation, unemployment, lack of transparency and fairness, protection of intellectual property and personal data, and threats to human rights and democratic values. We further acknowledge the need for equitable access to resources, which must be considered, accounted for, or addressed in order for societies to benefit from and build competitive AI solutions. We underscore GPAI’s pivotal role in addressing contemporary AI issues, including generative AI, through applied AI projects aimed at addressing societal problems and global challenges, maximising the benefits and mitigating associated risks.

7. We support the intention of India, as Lead Chair for 2024, in its endeavour to promote collaborative AI for global partnership among GPAI members by supporting projects aimed at promoting equitable access to critical resources for AI research and innovation, such as AI computing, high quality diverse datasets, algorithms, software, testbeds, and other AI-relevant resources in compliance with applicable intellectual property protections and data protection legislations. We reaffirm the importance of fostering (US DEL an)  equitable AI ecosystem (US Add s) that ensures diverse, inclusive and multistakeholder engagement, including from under-represented groups and communities facing vulnerabilities towards the responsible design,  development, deployment, and sustainable use of trustworthy AI.

8. We support the development, in a collaborative manner, of necessary knowledge, skills, infrastructure, policies, risk management frameworks and governance mechanisms to effectively and responsibly leverage AI technologies and applications, including among low and middle-income countries to harness the potential of AI advancements and manage the associated risks, including ensuring robust protection of rights, safety, and security.

9. We embrace the use of AI innovation in supporting sustainable agriculture as a new thematic priority for GPAI. We acknowledge the importance of promoting the development of and access to risk-proportionate trustworthy AI applications for ensuring sustainable food production systems and implementing resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, help regenerate ecosystems, strengthen capacity for mitigation and adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality, as well as promote inclusion and empowerment of workers in the agricultural supply chain.

10. We commend the efforts undertaken by India, the incoming support chair, the GPAI secretariat, the Expert Support Centres, and the Executive Council to foster enhanced member-expert collaboration and increase the visibility of GPAI, through efforts such as the member-facilitated GPAI working group convenings and the GPAI Innovation Workshop. 

11. We are committed to continuing and strengthening our advocacy efforts to enhance the public visibility of GPAI’s outputs and facilitate the adoption of relevant work wherever feasible. 

12. We note the international community’s efforts over the year to drive international collaboration on AI. To this end, we acknowledge GPAI’s contribution to the G7 leaders’ statement on the Hiroshima AI Process, the Bletchley Declaration, and the G20 New Delhi leaders’ declaration as steps towards working together, in an inclusive manner, to promote trustworthy AI that supports the good of all. 

13. We reaffirm our dedication to strengthening GPAI’s independent and unique identity as a key multilateral initiative for practical approaches to advancing the trustworthy development, deployment, and use of AI. We are committed to positioning GPAI as a nodal initiative that plays a key role in global cooperation on AI innovation and governance, along with its expert support centres. Towards this, we support GPAI’s further engagement with other relevant international fora such as the G20, G7, OECD, UNESCO and other UN bodies, to leverage synergies and avoid duplication of efforts.

14. We reaffirm our commitment to pursuing a diverse membership, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries to ensure a broad range of expertise, national and regional views and experiences based on our shared values. We are committed to ensuring that GPAI’s mission has a global impact, and helps address diverse global and societal challenges.

The Arthashastra, composed in Sanskrit during the Mauryan Empire, stands as one of the oldest treatises on governance, military strategy, politics, economics, justice, and the responsibilities of rulers. Scholars estimate its creation around the second century BCE, and it is attributed to Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, who served as the prime minister to Chandragupta, the first of the Mauryan rulers.

After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, this remarkable document was lost to history until its serendipitous rediscovery by Rudrapatna Shamashastri, a Sanskrit scholar and librarian, in 1905. Shamashastri stumbled upon the original Arthashastra hidden among stacks of palm leaf manuscripts at the ORI, founded by Mysore’s Wodeyar kings in 1891. The institute became part of the University of Mysore in 1916 and houses an impressive collection of around 70,000 rare palm-leaf manuscripts.

Recognizing the significance of his discovery, Shamashastri painstakingly transcribed the Arthashastra onto fresh palm leaves and published it in 1909. His scholarly dedication extended to translating it into English in 1915.

The revelation of the Arthashastra was a pivotal moment in Indian historiography, debunking the British Raj’s belief that India’s concepts of governance and military administration were influenced by the Greeks. Additionally, it usurped Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” a 16th-century work, as the world’s oldest treatise on political philosophy.

Despite its profound historical importance, the original Arthashastra languishes in neglect within the ORI’s confines. S.A. Krishnaiah, a member of the institute’s committee, laments that the document is stored in a cushioned box, wrapped in cloth, without the protection of an air conditioner or dehumidifier. This neglect pains those who understand its true worth.

The ORI itself has grappled with financial constraints for years. In 2012, the US government provided a grant of $50,000 to address structural issues like a leaking roof. The Ford Foundation contributed dehumidifiers and air conditioners, but these have fallen into disrepair. The institute has also weathered two fires in the past due to faulty wiring in 1996 and 1998, sparking concerns that the Arthashastra and its collection of approximately 70,000 historic documents and manuscripts could have been reduced to ashes.

While efforts have been made to improve the institute’s infrastructure, including rewiring, relocating the book depot, and implementing painting and dust-proofing measures, the preservation of fragile documents has not received adequate attention. Research scholars who utilise the ORI’s resources assert that it lacks sufficient funding to manage manuscripts, hire experts, and maintain the building.

Dr. Shivarajappa, the director of ORI, acknowledges the need for focused efforts to revive the original Arthashastra document. He has proposed a grant of ₹3.5 crore from the government for this purpose and seeks additional staffing with expertise in preserving and documenting ancient manuscripts. His commitment to preserving this national treasure is underscored by his personal initiative to learn the latest techniques during a visit to the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune.

Despite its challenges, the ORI continues to welcome approximately 5,000 visitors each year, including scholars and students from around the world. Dr. Hemantha Kumar, the vice-chancellor of the University of Mysore, has pledged increased funding for ORI and emphasised that funds have been designated for the Arthashastra’s preservation. Additionally, the institute has the freedom to propose digitization projects for the Arthashastra as needed.

While digitization ensures broader access to the Arthashastra’s contents, the original manuscript remains incredibly fragile. Prof. L.N. Swamy, a senior history faculty member at the University of Mysore and former official of the Karnataka archaeology department, underscores that palm leaves have a longer lifespan than many other materials. However, even palm leaf documents require preservation efforts like air conditioning, dehumidifiers, and citronella oil coating to extend their lives.

As the original Arthashastra manuscript teeters on the brink of deterioration, scholars like Krishnaiah and others advocate for immediate, scientifically guided preservation measures. Regardless of the existence of copies and digitised versions, the value of safeguarding this priceless historical artifact cannot be overstated. It is a testament to India’s rich intellectual heritage, and its protection is a duty that must be upheld for future generations.

The Tigray War, which erupted in November 2020, serves as the epicenter of Ethiopia’s current turmoil. The conflict began when the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a radical party dominant in the Tigray region, clashed with the federal government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. Abiy Ahmed had assumed office in April 2018 and had embarked on a mission to root out TPLF influence from key government positions. This move, while promising a “safe” government for Tigray, created a deep-seated animosity between the federal government and the TPLF.

Tensions escalated further when elections in Tigray, scheduled for September 2020, were held despite the federal government’s COVID-19-related postponement. The TPLF emerged victorious in these elections, a move deemed illegal by the federal government. In response, the federal government froze funds to Tigray, demanding a redo of the elections. This standoff culminated in November 2020 when the TPLF attacked the federal military’s command in Tigray, capturing its military assets. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed retaliated with airstrikes, resulting in civilian casualties and deepening resentment among the local population.

The Amhara region, Ethiopia’s second-largest ethnic group, played a pivotal role in the Tigray War by supporting the federal government’s forces. The region is also home to the Fano militia, which actively backed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. However, clashes with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), linked to the TPLF, in early 2021 led to further violence and instability in Ethiopia, particularly against the Amhara population.

Efforts were made to quell the conflict, including a peace pact between the federal government and Tigray, but this triggered an insurgency by the OLA. Ethnic violence against Amharas in Oromia ensued, eroding faith in the Ethiopian leadership’s ability to support the Amhara cause. Clashes between federal forces and Fano escalated in May 2022 when the government attempted to disarm and arrest Fano members, resulting in numerous detentions in the Amhara region.

The Arrest of Zemene Kase, a senior leader of Fano, in September 2022, further exacerbated tensions. In April 2023, federal forces entered the Amhara region to disarm regional troops, leading to the silencing of opposition media and the suspension of aid operations by NGOs due to the killings of aid workers.

As of May 2023, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission reported militarised situations in various regions, with violence spreading to North Gondar, North Woll, and North Shewa zones. Meanwhile, the Amhara regional government cited the Fano militia’s eastern faction for the assassination of the Amhara Prosperity Party’s head, Girma Yeshitila. In August 2023, Fano clashed with the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and seized Lalibela airport, prompting the Ethiopian government to declare a state of emergency.

Conclusion

Ethiopia’s turmoil is a multifaceted crisis with deep historical roots, involving ethnic tensions, political rivalries, and regional dynamics. A peaceful and diplomatic resolution is essential to bring stability to the nation and ensure the well-being of its diverse population. The international community must continue to support efforts to find a lasting solution to this complex and devastating conflict.