Experts at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are urging Pakistan to prioritize the development of its own artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Their concerns stem from the country’s growing reliance on foreign AI, which raises economic and security risks, and may not address Pakistan’s unique needs.
“Overdependence on foreign AI solutions can be expensive and leave critical infrastructure vulnerable,” said ByeongJo Kong, an ADB data analytics specialist. Fatima Yasmin, ADB Vice-President, emphasized the importance of AI tailored to Pakistan’s specific challenges, citing India’s use of AI for elephant conservation and farmer assistance as successful examples.
Ozzeir Khan, ADB’s Director of Digital Innovation, pointed to India’s emergence as a major AI player and suggested Pakistan could learn from their approach. He also highlighted the potential of AI in agriculture, citing the Philippines’ use of AI to optimize rice processing.
However, Pakistan currently lags behind in AI investment and education, hindering its technological advancement and economic growth. Mr. Kong warned of a potential brain drain without robust AI development strategies.
While collaboration is encouraged, experts caution against simply adopting foreign AI solutions. These might not be culturally appropriate, linguistically relevant, or function effectively with Pakistan’s infrastructure. Additionally, data privacy and security concerns arise when using AI systems not designed for local laws and regulations.
The solution, according to the ADB, lies in fostering local AI research, establishing partnerships, and creating a national AI strategy. This will ensure AI serves Pakistan’s specific needs while building domestic capacity and expertise.
With India rapidly developing its own AI capabilities, Pakistan faces a crucial decision. The urgency to prioritize localized AI development is paramount to address the country’s challenges and secure its future economic and social progress.
