UPSC CSE Prelims
Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies
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Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct ?
- LLMs assign probabilities to the next possible words and then pick the one with the highest probability.
- LLMs process data through mathematical optimization to minimise prediction errors.
- LLMs produce unbiased outputs.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 — Correct. LLMs analyze input context and calculate a statistical probability distribution for the next possible word (token). In their basic form (greedy decoding), they pick the word with the highest probability. While real-world applications use controlled randomness (top-k sampling, temperature scaling) for creativity, the foundational mechanism is probability-based selection.
Statement 2 — Correct. LLM training relies on mathematical optimization:
- Algorithms like Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) and backpropagation iteratively adjust billions of model parameters
- The explicit goal is to minimize a "loss function" — a mathematical measure of prediction errors vs. actual training data
Statement 3 — Incorrect. LLMs do NOT produce unbiased outputs. Since they learn from massive human-generated datasets (internet text), they inherit, reflect, and sometimes amplify historical and societal biases — including gender, racial, and cultural stereotypes — present in training data.
Key Trick: Statement 3 uses an absolute term — "unbiased" — which is a classic UPSC red flag. No AI model trained on human data can be completely unbiased.
Consider the following statements:
I. It is expected that Majorana 1 chip will enable quantum computing.
II. Majorana 1 chip has been introduced by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
III. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
The Majorana 1 chip is a breakthrough quantum computing chip developed by Microsoft and is expected to accelerate the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers.
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Statement I is Correct: Majorana 1 is designed to support the future of quantum computing.
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Statement II is Incorrect: The chip was introduced by Microsoft, not Amazon Web Services (AWS).
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Statement III is Correct: Deep Learning is a specialized subset of Machine Learning that uses multi-layered neural networks.
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Therefore, only Statements I and III are correct, making Option C the correct answer.
Statement-wise Analysis
| Statement | Status | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I. Majorana 1 chip will enable quantum computing | ✅ Correct | It is designed to support scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computers. |
| II. Introduced by AWS | ❌ Incorrect | Majorana 1 was developed by Microsoft. |
| III. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning | ✅ Correct | Deep learning is an advanced branch of machine learning using neural networks. |
Majorana 1 Chip
What is Majorana 1?
Majorana 1 is Microsoft's quantum computing chip based on topological qubits, which aim to reduce errors and improve quantum stability.
Why is it important?
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Helps build scalable quantum computers.
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Uses Majorana particles (theoretical quasiparticles) for more reliable qubits.
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Expected to solve complex problems beyond the capability of classical computers.
Potential Applications
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Drug discovery
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Material science
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Climate modelling
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Cryptography
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Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning vs Deep Learning
| Machine Learning | Deep Learning |
|---|---|
| Broad field of AI | Subset of Machine Learning |
| Often requires manual feature selection | Learns features automatically |
| Works well with smaller datasets | Performs best with large datasets |
| Simpler models | Uses multi-layer neural networks |
Consider the following activities:
- Spraying pesticides on a crop field
- Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes
- Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis
At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 1,2 and 3
All three activities mentioned can be successfully carried out using drones at the current level of technology. Drones have revolutionized various fields by enabling safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations in environments that are hazardous, remote, or difficult to access for humans.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Agricultural drones are extensively used for precision spraying of pesticides and fertilizers on crop fields, reducing chemical waste and human exposure to toxins.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Drones equipped with thermal cameras and gas sensors are deployed to inspect active volcano craters, allowing scientists to collect critical data from dangerous environments without risking human lives.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Specialized drones like 'SnotBot' are used to fly through whale blows (spouting breath) to collect biological samples including DNA, hormones, and microbiomes for non-invasive health monitoring and research.
📝 Short Notes: Applications of Drones (UAVs)
- Agriculture: Precision spraying of pesticides/fertilizers, crop monitoring, soil analysis, and irrigation management
- Environmental Research: Volcano monitoring, wildlife tracking, forest fire detection, and air quality assessment
- Marine Biology: Whale health monitoring through breath sample collection, marine mammal surveys, and coral reef mapping
- Disaster Management: Search and rescue operations, damage assessment, and delivery of emergency supplies
- Infrastructure: Inspection of bridges, power lines, pipelines, and tall structures
- Delivery Services: Medical supplies, e-commerce parcels, and food delivery in remote areas
- Defense & Security: Surveillance, reconnaissance, border patrolling, and tactical operations
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With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?
- Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units.
- Create meaningful short stories and songs.
- Disease diagnosis.
- Text-to-Speech Conversion.
- Wireless transmission of electrical energy.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 1, 3 and 4 only
This question tests the understanding of practical applications of Artificial Intelligence. AI can effectively reduce electricity consumption in industrial units through smart optimization, diagnose diseases through medical image analysis, and convert text to speech using natural language processing. However, creating genuinely meaningful creative content and wireless electrical transmission are not effective AI capabilities.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: AI-driven automation and smart sensors optimize energy use in industrial units by predicting demand, monitoring equipment health, and adjusting operations in real-time to reduce electricity consumption.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: At the time of this examination, AI could not effectively create truly meaningful short stories and songs with coherent narrative structure, genuine emotional depth, and creative intent beyond pattern recombination.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: AI is highly effective in disease diagnosis, particularly in analyzing medical imagery such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to detect diseases like cancer, pneumonia, and diabetic retinopathy with high precision.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion is a mature and well-established application of AI that utilizes natural language processing and neural networks to synthesize human-like speech from written text.
❌ Statement 5 – Incorrect: Wireless transmission of electrical energy is a physical engineering process based on electromagnetic induction or microwaves, not an AI application. This is a function of physics and hardware design, not Artificial Intelligence.
📝 Short Notes: Applications of Artificial Intelligence
- Industrial Optimization: AI uses machine learning algorithms to analyze real-time data from sensors, predict maintenance needs, optimize production schedules, and reduce energy waste in manufacturing and industrial processes.
- Medical Diagnostics: AI-powered systems, particularly using deep learning and computer vision, assist in disease detection through medical image analysis, pattern recognition in patient data, and early diagnosis of conditions like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and eye disorders.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): Text-to-Speech systems use neural networks and deep learning to convert written text into natural-sounding speech, widely used in virtual assistants, accessibility tools, and automated customer service.
- Creative Content Generation: While AI can generate text and music based on patterns learned from training data, creating truly meaningful creative content with genuine emotional depth and narrative coherence remains challenging and was not considered an effective AI capability at the time of this examination.
- Limitations of AI: Physical processes like wireless power transmission depend on electromagnetic principles and hardware engineering, not software-based AI algorithms. AI can optimize such systems but cannot perform the transmission itself.
In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements:
- In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out.
- In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a computer are projected into real-life objects or surroundings.
- AR allows individuals to be present in the world and improves the experience using the camera of smart-phone or PC.
- VR closes the world, and transposes an individual, providing complete immersion experience.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 3 and 4
This question tests the understanding of the fundamental differences between Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). AR enhances the real world by overlaying digital elements, while VR creates a completely immersive simulated environment that replaces the physical world.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: This describes VR, not AR. AR enhances the real world with digital overlays rather than shutting out the physical world completely.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: This describes AR, not VR. VR creates a completely simulated environment that replaces reality, not projects images into real-life objects.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: AR allows users to remain present in the real world while enhancing their experience through smartphones or PC cameras that overlay digital content onto real surroundings.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: VR closes out the physical world and transports the user into a fully immersive simulated environment, typically through headsets.
📝 Short Notes: AR vs VR Technologies
| Aspect | Augmented Reality (AR) | Virtual Reality (VR) |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Enhances real world with digital overlays | Creates completely simulated environment |
| Physical World | Remains visible and accessible | Completely shut out/blocked |
| Devices | Smartphones, tablets, AR glasses | VR headsets (Oculus, HTC Vive) |
| Immersion Level | Partial immersion | Complete immersion |
| User Presence | Remains in real world | Transported to virtual world |
| Examples | Pokémon GO, Snapchat filters, IKEA Place app | VR gaming, flight simulators, virtual tours |
| Applications | Education, retail, navigation, maintenance | Gaming, training simulations, therapy |
"3D printing" has applications in which of the following?
- Preparation of confectionery items
- Manufacture of bionic ears
- Automotive industry
- Reconstructive surgeries
- Data processing technologies
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
3D printing (additive manufacturing) has revolutionized multiple industries by enabling the creation of complex three-dimensional objects from digital files. All five applications mentioned—confectionery items, bionic ears, automotive parts, reconstructive surgery implants, and specialized components for data processing hardware—are well-documented uses of 3D printing technology.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: 3D printing is used in the food industry to create intricate and customized confectionery items like chocolates and candies with precise designs.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Researchers have successfully used 3D printing to manufacture bionic ears with integrated electronics for people with hearing impairments.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The automotive industry extensively uses 3D printing for rapid prototyping, custom parts manufacturing, and production of vehicle components.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: 3D printing is widely used in reconstructive surgeries to create patient-specific implants, prosthetics, and surgical guides tailored to individual anatomy.
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: 3D printing is utilized to manufacture specialized components and hardware parts for data processing technologies and computer systems.
📝 Short Notes: 3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing)
- Definition: 3D printing is a process of creating three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file by adding material layer by layer, hence called additive manufacturing.
- Basic Process: Involves computer-aided design (CAD) software to create digital models, which are then sliced into thin layers and printed using various materials like plastics, metals, ceramics, or even biological materials.
- Medical Applications: Custom prosthetics, dental implants, surgical instruments, anatomical models for surgery planning, bio-printed tissues and organs (experimental stage), and patient-specific implants.
- Industrial Applications: Rapid prototyping in automotive and aerospace industries, manufacturing of complex parts, tooling, and production of end-use components.
- Consumer Applications: Customized jewelry, toys, household items, fashion accessories, and personalized products.
- Emerging Applications: Food printing (chocolates, pasta, pizza), construction (3D printed houses), bioprinting (organs and tissues), and electronics manufacturing.
- Advantages: Design flexibility, waste reduction, customization, rapid prototyping, and ability to create complex geometries impossible with traditional manufacturing.