AI policy draft lacks ethical guidelines on biases: CAN Federation VP Adhikari

KATHMANDU: Nepal Engineers’ Association held a high-level discussion on the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Draft on Wednesday, bringing together key stakeholders, experts, and policymakers.

Narayan Timilsina, Under Secretary (Technical) at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT), presented the core theme of the AI policy. The discussion allowed experts and stakeholders to voice their opinions.

Chiranjibi Adhikari, Vice President of the Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) and CEO of One Cover, a cybersecurity company, delivered an in-depth review of the AI Policy Draft., highlighting key concerns and recommendations to enhance Nepal’s AI strategy.

The discussion focused on two phases: detection and protection, and implementation and governance.

Adhikari mentioned that the policy lacks detailed ethical guidelines and is inadequate in addressing job displacement, inequality, and digital divide issues. He suggested prioritising local data collection, funding mechanisms, and collaboration with global AI communities.

He also recommended integrating AI education, enhancing government decision-making, and promoting AI for environmental protection. The policy should encourage inclusive AI development and open-source innovation, he said.

The discussion emphasised that while Nepal’s AI Policy 2081 is a step in the right direction, it needs refinements to ensure robust ethical guidelines and data privacy measures.

Experts stressed the need for proactive AI governance, continuous stakeholder engagement, and a forward-thinking approach to harness AI’s full potential for Nepal’s development.