“Governments, education, and healthcare sectors are leveraging generative AI to save time and speed up processes,” said David Levy, vice president of worldwide public sector at AWS. In the past two years, we have seen how generative AI has evolved as a transformative force steadily reshaping industries and business processes.
Along with businesses, governments around the world are using generative AI and cloud services to improve services and streamline processes, essentially using data to make crucial decisions. At the AWS re:Invent 2024, Levy shed light on how public sector organisations are using technology, the role of AWS in democratising AI, and the ethical and sustainability challenges that are inherent to the ongoing technological wave.
On generative AI uses cases
“One of the most frequent use cases we see is summarising documents—whether it’s for briefings or policies with a high volume of information,” Levy told indianexpress.com.
Levy went on to cite the example of Swindon Borough Council in England that used generative AI to simplify rental agreements for residents whose first language was not English. Levy said that in healthcare, AI helps in expediting hospital discharge processes by automating paperwork, allowing medical practitioners to focus more on patient care.“We’re just at the beginning,” Levy said. “But there’s already a lot of interest and a growing number of use cases for generative AI in the public sector.”
Talking about AWS, Levy said that the leading cloud services provider has positioned itself as a critical enabler of generative AI adoption. The executive outlined the company’s three-tiered approach to this which includes – infrastructure, data and models, and application development, and explained what it comprises of –– custom infrastructure with chips like Trainium and Inferentia for efficient model training and inference; integration of data with third-party or proprietary models via Bedrock; and tools for developing AI applications, ensuring accessibility and scalability.
“Our goal is to democratise AI, making it accessible and safe for everyone, backed by strong AI principles and professional support.”
When asked what role AWS plays in assisting public sector customers with tools and training for generative AI adoption, Levy explained that AWS offers robust training programmes, ranging from introductory sessions on AI to advanced courses on deploying and training models. According to Levy, AWS’s Generative AI Impact Initiative, with $50 million in credits for training and services, is helping lower barriers to entry for public sector companies.“We want to get these powerful tools into the hands of everyone who wants to develop capabilities around generative AI,” Levy said.
On global adoption
Even though more companies – from across industries – are hopping on the generative AI bandwagon, adoption varies across countries owing to their socio-economic factors. Levy asserted that AWS’s programmes and partnerships work towards ensuring inclusive participation. “We’re seeing customers experiment and quickly get going, even for simple use cases,” said Levy. “Generative AI has the potential to reinvent every imaginable customer experience, and those ideas can come from anywhere—not just major economies.”
The impact is evident in India. Pankaj Gupta, country leader India and South Asia for enterprises, public sector, healthcare and education at AWS, revealed that the National Health Authority of India uses AWS to power the world’s largest health insurance scheme, providing coverage to 550 million people. “The platform has already facilitated over 70 million hospitalisations, bridging the urban-rural divide. Similarly, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) enables procurement participation from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, fostering inclusivity,” Gupta said. Levy noted that these projects democratise access to essential services and shows how generative AI can be a force for good.
Privacy and ethical concerns
Public sector organisations are known for managing sensitive citizen data, and privacy and security concerns loom large. When asked about his thoughts on this, Levy assured that AWS prioritises security, terming it as “job zero”. “We operate on a shared responsibility model, where we secure the infrastructure while our customers secure their applications and data,” he said.
Moreover, AWS provides tools like end-to-end encryption and consistently innovates to enhance its security measures. When it comes to the ethical front, Levy asserted the importance of deploying responsible AI frameworks. “Each organisation should develop its own framework around responsible AI. At AWS, our framework emphasises veracity, robustness, and fairness,” he said. The key, Levy said, is to balance innovation with ethical practices, ensuring that the transformative potential of AI isn’t withheld.
Embracing change
When asked about individuals and organisations struggling with the implications of AI, Levy offered a sense of optimism and curiosity. While he acknowledged the concerns around job loss, he also highlighted AI’s potential to create more opportunities. “AI and generative AI are going to open up opportunities we haven’t even thought of yet. My advice is to embrace change, lean into learning, and explore the possibilities,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from his own career journey, Levy stressed on the value of curiosity and adaptability. “When I was learning computer programming, access to resources was limited. Today, technology is much more democratised, and the opportunities to learn and innovate are greater than ever,” he said.
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