Anil Kapoor has made headlines by being the only Indian actor featured in Time magazine's prestigious list of the 100 "Most Influential People in AI 2024." This recognition is particularly noteworthy as Kapoor has been acknowledged for his significant contributions to addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. He joins the ranks of other influential figures, including Scarlett Johansson, YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Mark Zuckerberg.
Is it because Anil Kapoor is ‘Jhakaas?’
Sort of. While Anil Kapoor and artificial intelligence may not seem like an obvious pairing, his inclusion in this list comes from a landmark legal victory he achieved last year. In September, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of Kapoor, protecting his rights against the unauthorized use of his name, image, voice, and his iconic catchphrase "jhakaas" for commercial purposes. This case highlighted the growing concern over personality rights in an era where AI technology is evolving rapidly.
The court noted the importance of safeguarding personality rights, particularly as AI can easily manipulate and replicate an individual's lookalike. Kapoor praised the decision and its significance in preventing future misuse and protecting celebrity endorsements. The court noted, “Fame for a person comes with disadvantages,” talking about the challenges celebrities face in the digital age.
What about Elon Musk?
Interestingly, the list has sparked discussions about the absence of Elon Musk, a prominent figure in the AI landscape. This is probably because Musk's recent political commentary and his controversial desire to be included in the U.S. elections have polarized public opinion. Despite his significant contributions to AI, particularly through Tesla's self-driving technology, Musk's transparency and outspoken nature may have affected his inclusion.
Other figures on the list, like Zuckerberg, have admitted to political pressures impacting their business decisions, but Musk's approach has been rather odd.
What!? The CEO of OpenAI himself didn’t make it to the cover?
Another notable omission from the list is Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, whose company has been at the forefront of the AI revolution with its ChatGPT model. The internet reacted strongly to his absence, with many questioning how Altman could be overlooked in favour of celebrities like Scarlett Johansson. Comments on social media expressed disbelief, such as, “Scarlett Johansson is definitely more influential than Sam Altman when it comes to generative AI: Said no one ever.”
Adding to this, Johansson revealed that Altman had approached her to lend her voice to an AI system, claiming it would provide comfort to users. Weird!
After she declined, a demo featuring a voice resembling hers was released which got her shocked and angry, leading to legal action that resulted in the removal of the voice. This incident could be a factor in Altman's absence from the list.
How is the list made?
The process of creating Time's list involves requesting nominations from industry leaders and expert sources. The result is a compilation of 100 individuals who are shaping the future of AI. This year, other notable Indians included on the cover are Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, and Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys.
Anil Kapoor's recognition in Time's list of the 100 Most Influential People in AI 2024 serves as a reminder of the intersection between technology and celebrity culture. His legal battle for personality rights highlights the growing importance of protecting individual identities in an age where AI can easily replicate and exploit them. Meanwhile, the absence of figures like Elon Musk and Sam Altman raises questions about the criteria for influence in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
As the conversation around AI continues to expand, the implications for both technology and society will undoubtedly remain a hot topic, including Anil Kapoor’s surprising feature.
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