Kerala to use AI tools in governance, announces CM VD Satheesan
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday announced that his government will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in governance in order to have a transition towards a data-driven administration. The Chief Minister, however, dismissed allegations that AI platforms were used to draft the recently tabled White Paper on the state's finances.
"This government will use Artificial Intelligence tools. We are moving towards a data-driven government. As part of that approach, we will make use of AI tools. We have already begun studying how to do this, and we have assigned the necessary personnel to work on it," Satheesan told reporters following a state Cabinet meeting. "What is wrong with a government doing that?" he added.
Denial of AI involvement in financial White Paper
The Chief Minister’s statements came in response to allegations raised by senior CPM leader and former Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac. Isaac had claimed during a press conference on June 5 that the 122-page financial document, tabled in the Assembly by the UDF government on June 4, might have been generated using AI platforms—raising concerns over the potential exposure of sensitive and confidential Finance Department data.
While defending the overall use of technology in governance, Satheesan firmly denied its involvement in this specific instance.
"Some people keep saying that AI was used. Even if AI had been used, what would be wrong with that? We will use AI for such purposes. In this particular case, however, it was not used," the Chief Minister said.
Government defends capacity and transparency
The White Paper was drafted by a three-member committee headed by former Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar. Addressing critics who questioned how a detailed 122-page document could be compiled within a 10-day timeframe, Satheesan defended the state's administrative machinery.
"People are asking how we managed to produce a 122-page document in such a short time. Does the government not have the capacity to prepare 122 pages within 10 days? Of course it does. We did it," he stated.
The Chief Minister also brushed aside criticism regarding the disclosure of Treasury balances within the report, stating that the figures were already public knowledge.
"The first person to publicly state that there was Rs 6,000 crore in the Treasury was the former Finance Minister, K N Balagopal. So where is the secrecy? There is really no secret here. There is no secret at all," Satheesan concluded.
PTI