Nandan Nilekani Warns AI Risks Backlash Without Public Benefit Focus

• Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and EkStep, warns that AI faces public backlash if it prioritizes misuse and job losses over public benefit.
• Concerns over job displacement and the rise of AI-generated content, including pornography, are creating negative perceptions and could hinder AI adoption.
• Nilekani emphasizes the need for a "race to the top" in AI, focusing on applications that improve livelihoods and strengthen public services, rather than a "race to the bottom" characterized by misuse.
• Recent controversies, such as Grok generating non-consensual sexualized images and Meta's AI chatbots allowing explicit interactions for minors, highlight the urgent need for responsible AI development.
• India has an opportunity to lead in applied AI, developing solutions for real-world problems like those benefiting farmers and dairies, to build public trust and avoid backlash.

Why It Matters: AI must prioritize public benefit and ethical use to avoid backlash and ensure widespread social acceptance.