Human in the Loop: Exploring the Unintended Consequences of Generative AI in India

About Human in the Loop

Generative AI is reshaping the world at breakneck speed. Some see it as a catalyst for innovation and growth. Others warn of economic disruption and deepening social inequalities.

The future remains uncertain.

But the future is also not predetermined.

We have important choices to make about the technological futures we desire.

Human in the Loop is a participatory foresight and storytelling project examining the near-future risks and unintended consequences of Generative AI in India.

By identifying these risks early, we can avoid harmful technological and policy lock-ins and chart pathways toward safe, equitable, and sustainable digital futures.

Our Approach

While GenAI is rapidly gaining ground in India, its use also brings a variety of challenges. While some of these issues are already visible, many long-term impacts will emerge more gradually, and perhaps, less obviously.

Failing to anticipate future consequences early on may lead us toward harmful tech and policy lock-ins that are nearly impossible to reverse.

Foresight methods provide a structured and systematic way of co-creating ideas about the future to anticipate and better prepare for change. Foresight methods are especially useful in contexts of high complexity and uncertainty, as is the case with Generative AI and its emergent applications.

Our approach to building these stories involved the following four steps:

• Horizon Scanning
• Expert Consultations
• Public Consultations
• Co-Creation