Today, On 22nd April, The Supreme Court warned that AI could replace drivers, causing large-scale job losses. The observation came during a PIL hearing on proper enforcement of Electric Vehicle (EV) promotion policies in India.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court raised concerns about the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to replace drivers in the future, which could result in significant unemployment for many individuals.
During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition focused on ensuring effective implementation of government policies promoting Electric Vehicles (EV), Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh expressed their worries.
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Justice Kant noted,
“My worry is that the AI should not eliminate the employment of these drivers…In India driver (job), it is a big source of employment.”
In a lighter moment, Justice Kant humorously remarked that even lawyers might find themselves competing with AI-driven tools.
He pointed out,
“AI itself is fast growing technology. One module becomes obsolete in months. Right now we have seen AI based advocates….he has argued in USA. We are worried about Bar.”
The PIL was filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, who emphasized the critical role of EVs in tackling environmental issues, highlighting that India is home to 14 of the 15 most polluted cities worldwide.
He stated,
“All I am seeking is that the government should implement its own policy,”
The Court noted that the responsibility does not lie solely with the government but also with other institutions to take initiative.
Bhushan responded that the government must establish the necessary infrastructure, mentioning instances where charging stations are located as far as 400 kilometers apart.
Following a request from Attorney General R. Venkataramani, who represented the government and sought time to update the Court on policy developments regarding EV promotion, the Court scheduled the next hearing for May 14.
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The discussion in the Court made it clear that while promoting Electric Vehicles is important for the environment, the use of Artificial Intelligence should not come at the cost of people’s jobs.
The Supreme Court is worried about the future impact of AI, especially on low-income workers like drivers, and wants to make sure that technology growth does not leave millions unemployed.