Institutional Knowledge Key to AI Accountability
Highlighting a hybrid approach to AI, Shri Harivansh said, “When a human enters a new organisation, they bring skill and knowledge. Skills can be acquired or outsourced, but knowledge is contextual and deeply embedded within the institution. Parliamentary knowledge is unique, built over decades through debates, rulings, conventions, and constitutional practices. The same principle applies to Artificial Intelligence.”
He reiterated that human oversight must be an integral component of any AI system, stating that “Innovation without restraint carries risk, while restraint without innovation can lead to stagnation.” Parliament must therefore strike a careful balance between innovation and accountability.
AI Tools in Indian Parliament
Shri Harivansh detailed practical AI initiatives already underway in the Indian Parliament. These include models for translation of parliamentary documents, analysis of debates, and framing questions across 22 languages. A Parliamentary Language Dictionary of approximately 48,000 terms has been integrated into a custom AI model for parliamentary use.
Human translators continue to maintain full control, with AI serving as an assistive tool. This approach has enhanced user acceptability and improved the accuracy of legislative AI applications.
Ethics, Oversight, and Democratic Values
The Deputy Chairman emphasised that AI adoption must uphold democratic principles, remain ethically bound, and be accountable to Parliament and the public. He stressed that technology should complement human judgment rather than replace it.
Shri Harivansh also called for stronger collaboration among Commonwealth nations to share best practices for AI integration in legislatures.
28th Commonwealth Conference in India
India is hosting the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth for the fourth time, with previous editions held in 1971, 1986, and 2010. The conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Central Hall of Parliament (Samvidhan Sadan).
The event provides a platform for exchanging ideas on parliamentary governance, including the responsible adoption of emerging technologies like AI.
