AI a "big opportunity", essential to ensure its benefits reach all: President Murmu
New Delhi (PTI): Describing Artificial Intelligence as a "big opportunity" for ushering in positive change, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said it is essential to ensure that its benefits reach all sections of the society, especially the underprivileged.
Addressing a programme organised by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, she observed that AI is emerging as a critical growth driver for India's economy and will contribute significantly towards the country's GDP, employment and productivity in the coming decades.
AI should be utilised for reducing societal, economic and technological barriers, said the President.
She pointed out that skills including data science, AI engineering and data analytics will play an influential role in developing the country's AI talent pool.
"Artificial intelligence is emerging as a growth driver for India's economy. India is rapidly progressing towards becoming the world's third largest economy," she said.
In the coming decades, AI will play a significant role in contributing towards the country's GDP, job-creation and overall productivity, Murmu added.
She stated that the government in collaboration with industry partners and academia is ensuring that India not just embraces technology but also shapes a responsible future through it.
The President exhorted the citizens to commit to working towards the goal of Viksit Bharat and transform India into a knowledge superpower and a tech- driven inclusive and prosperous nation through the New Education Policy.
She highlighted that the government is promoting the use of Artificial Intelligence in schools and preparing children for technological leadership.
Through AI labs and AI models, innovative thinking and future ready skills are being inculcated in children, the President said.
She observed that the objective of the Skill the Nation Challenge launched on the occasion is to promote AI learning and innovation on a large scale.
These initiatives will prove significant in uplifting lakhs of learners, improving their capabilities and readying a future-ready workforce in India, said the President.
She observed that AI is providing a new direction to the economy and society across the globe.
For a young India, AI is not just a technique but a big opportunity for ushering in positive change, she said.
The President asserted that AI should be utilised for reducing societal, economic and technological barriers. It is essential to ensure that its benefits reach all sections of the society, especially the underprivileged ones, she said in her address.
She emphasized that the government is strengthening digital public infrastructure, and the India AI Mission is being implemented to establish country as a global AI leader.
President Murmu was speaking while participating in a special programme under SOAR -- Skilling for AI Readiness, an initiative of the Skill India Mission.
She conferred Artificial Intelligence (AI) certificates upon learners, including students and Members of Parliament, and launched the national awareness campaign #SkillTheNation Challenge, aimed at encouraging more youth participation in future-ready skilling programmes.
The President also virtually inaugurated the IGNOU Regional Centre at Rairangpur, serving as a key hub for northern Odisha for strengthening employability through skill-oriented programmes and training support.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the nature of work and skill requirements across sectors.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
