MU faculty pitches for grooming native Al developers
Source: Chronicle News Service / Premchand Thongam
Imphal, March 25 2025:
In the midst of the global race in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the state needs to build its own force of native developers to ensure that the state's perspectives, ideas, and realities are accurately represented, stated Dr Khumukcham Robindro, head of the Department of Computer Science, Manipur University.
Speaking exclusively to The People's Chronicle, Dr Robindro emphasised that without participation from local talent in AI development, the narratives around the state could either be underrepresented or misrepresented.
He expressed concern that in today's world, where people tend to place high trust in AI-generated content, the absence of local representation in AI development could lead to real-world consequences in how the state is perceived and understood.
This is not just about hypothetical risks - AI models can generate incomplete or factually incorrect content about regions or issues that are not well-represented in their training data.
This can be addressed only when native developers contribute their own context and perspectives, he said.
Highlighting its benefits, Dr Robindro explained that Artificial Intelligence is about incorporating human-like intelligence and behaviour into machines through advanced processes like machine learning among others.
Men are intelligent beings.
AI seeks to replicate this intelligence in technology to generate desired information and behaviour.
In the field of education, AI is particularly useful as it enables content customisation, allowing learners to access specific information instead of being overwhelmed by large volumes of generic content, he said.
The department head added that AI is not just confined to education but is making significant strides in healthcare, business, and entertainment.
Among the most popular AI tools today are ChatGPT and Gemini, which are widely used across the globe.
However, Dr Robindro pointed out a critical gap in the state's current engagement with AI.
"At present, people in Manipur are mostly consumers of AI services.
We use the tools, but we're not building them.
There is a glaring lack of native developers in this field," he noted.
Dr Robindro also emphasised that this absence of local developers not only restricts the state's presence in the broader AI ecosystem but also results in a lack of accurate data and insights about the region within these AI models.
The government must take this seriously and frame a dedicated policy to promote AI development within the state, he suggested.
According to Dr Robindro, Manipur is not lacking in talent.
The people of this state are naturally adaptive and quick learners.
Several of the state natives are currently contributing to prestigious institutions like IIITs, IITs, and NITs across the country, he pointed out and proposed that the state government take the initiative to invite these individuals for a thorough policy discussion to lay the groundwork for AI development in the region.
At the same time, he cautioned about the ethical dimensions of AI usage.
With numerous AI tools emerging, consumers need to be vigilant about the intentions behind each model.
It's important to understand the ethical framework of an AI tool to avoid misuse.
AI is a powerful technology and, if not handled responsibly, has vast potential for harm, he warned.
Dr Robindro also shared that Manipur University is actively working on developing AI applications for public utility.
As part of their research and thesis, two PhD scholars are currently working on projects that aim to forecast floods and electricity load using multi-parameter data.
These projects are nearing completion, marking a significant step for the university in AI research, he added.
(This article is published under the 5th Scientific Journalism Program on 'Artificial Intelligence and Its Usage' of the Public Relations and Media Management (PRMM) Cell, Central Agricultural University, Imphal) .
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