Home  /  Daily Current Affairs  /  09-04-2025 / Technology and Innovation Report 2025

Technology and Innovation Report 2025

Last updated on April 9th, 2025 Posted on April 9, 2025 by NEXT IAS Current Affairs Team  543

Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Technology

In News

  • The Technology and Innovation Report 2025 released by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Technology and Innovation Report

  • It surveys the complex artificial intelligence landscape, aiming to help decision makers design science, technology and innovation policies that foster inclusive technological progress
  • It analyses the requirements and policies needed at all stages, from development to adoption, to foster inclusive technological progress for sustainable development.

Findings 

  • The U.S. leads in private AI investments, contributing 70% of global AI investment in 2023.
  • India, China, and Brazil contribute significantly to AI advances and the production of AI-related scientific knowledge.
    • Brazil has a significant talent pool of 4 million developers.
  • China and the U.S. dominate in cloud infrastructure services, with India and Brazil also making notable contributions.
case studies of ai adoption in developing countries
Do you know?
– Countries are specializing in specific technological domains: Germany in wind energy, India in nanotechnology, Japan in electric vehicles, and South Korea in 5G technology.
– Industrialization in developing countries (e.g., Brazil, China, India) has been key to reducing poverty and driving economic growth, providing jobs in multiple sectors.

India’s Position

  • India ranks 10th globally for private AI investments in 2023, with $1.4 billion.
  • India is one of the only developing countries with significant AI investments, along with China (2nd place with $7.8 billion).
  • India ranks 36th in the Readiness for Frontier Technologies index (improved from 48th in 2022).
    • India has around 13 million developers, making it a major contributor to AI and GenAI projects.

Concerns 

  • It highlights growing inequality in the AI landscape, with just 100 companies controlling 40% of global private R&D investment, primarily from the US and China.
    • 118 countries, mostly from the Global South, are excluded from global AI governance discussions
  • AI could impact up to 40% of global jobs, offering productivity gains but also raising concerns about automation and job displacement.
  • AI could widen inequality, but it can also create new industries and empower workers if governments invest in reskilling and workforce adaptation.
India’s Initiatives
– India has invested in AI education through the establishment of centers like IIT Hyderabad and IIT Kharagpur.
– The India AI Mission (approved in 2024) aims to reduce entry barriers to AI programs and increase AI courses in smaller cities.

Conclusion and Way Forward 

  • Countries with large populations like India and China have an advantage in AI development due to their large developer pools, positioning them favorably in the global AI landscape.
  • For developing countries to avoid being left behind, UNCTAD advises focusing on three key areas: infrastructure, data, and skills.
    • This involves improving internet and computing power, ensuring access to diverse datasets, and strengthening education systems for digital skills.
  • The report calls for global collaboration, including creating a shared AI resource facility and establishing a public disclosure framework for AI.
    • The goal is to ensure equitable access to AI and promote inclusive human development.

Source  :TH

 
Previous article Electronic Surveillance System in JK Border
Next article 3D Printing