Minister of Digital, Ministry of Digital – Mind the Language, Minister

 

The recent splitting of the Ministry of Communications and Digital into two new ministries with the creation of a new Ministry of Digital must have had more reasons than merely satisfying political pandering for more seats in the cabinet. It signifies the government’s acknowledgement of the critical role of digitalisation, data science, and AI in the country's future.

There could have been, however, more thought given to framing the title of the new ministry and minister. As they now stand, the titles given to the ministry and the minister sound sloppy. Digital is not an easy term to get around one’s thinking and there was probably an urgency in getting out the announcement of the cabinet reshuffle to spend more time on the title.

'Digital' is an adjective, not a full-fledged noun. Nor is the meaning of digital at all clear. In some contexts, it describes entire outputs emanating from digitalization. In others, it is about doing business in a new way. In another context, under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, the term confuses the process of digitalization with the content that is digitalized. Even if the meaning attached to digital is still fluid because it is new, its improper use clouds the functions of the new ministry and how digitalization has to be aligned with the national vision and what needs to be done in the different economic sectors. Digital as embedded in the new ministry appears to be both the means and the end.

The significance of language goes beyond mere communication. Precision and clarity in language are not just crucial for effective communication between individuals but are equally vital for the accuracy and reliability of AI tools like ChatGPT which the new ministry and minister would have under their purview. If language becomes imprecise or lacks clarity, it can distort the efficiency of AI tools, leading to inaccuracies, misinterpretations, and misinformation.

Moreover, our proficiency in assembling, organizing, and creating information and knowledge heavily depends on the clarity and accuracy of language. If language loses its precision, our ability to convey thoughts, ideas, and information cogently may be compromised, affecting not only the efficiency of AI tools but also our capacity to effectively share and build knowledge.

We must not sacrifice proficiency in language for the sake of advancing our interests through new technology. Language and digital technology are closely wedded. Therefore, maintaining a keen eye on the importance of language, its rules, nuances, and precision is crucial. It ensures the reliability and effectiveness of digital tools and safeguards the integrity of information and knowledge creation in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. It's through the adherence to linguistic precision that we not only facilitate effective communication but also uphold the foundation upon which our collective understanding and knowledge thrive.

A Ministry of Digital Technology and a Minister of Digital Technology might sound better and also serve to give the breadth of vision needed for both minister and ministry.