PM Modi, Macron co-chair AI Action Summit in Paris

New Delhi, Feb 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris, marking a significant step in global AI governance. The week-long event, which included scientific and cultural sessions, culminated in a High-Level Segment attended by global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts.

At the plenary session, PM Modi emphasized the transformative impact of AI, advocating for collective global governance that balances risk mitigation with innovation. He called for democratising AI access, particularly for the Global South, and highlighted India’s strides in digital public infrastructure and AI development. Modi also announced that India will host the next AI Summit. The summit concluded with the adoption of a Leaders Statement, focusing on AI accessibility, responsible use, diversity, and governance.

“AI Foundation” and “Council for Sustainable AI” established at Paris Summit

The AI Action Summit in Paris marked a significant step toward global AI governance with the establishment of the AI Foundation and the Council for Sustainable AI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in his concluding address as co-chair of the event.

“Today’s discussions have brought out one thing – there is unity in vision and unity in purpose across stakeholders,” Modi said. “I welcome the decision to set up the AI Foundation and the Council for Sustainable AI. I congratulate France and my dear friend President Macron for these initiatives and assure our full support.”

The Indian Prime Minister emphasized the need to make the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) more inclusive, particularly for the Global South. “It should be more inclusive of the Global South and its priorities, concerns, and needs,” Modi stated.

Looking ahead, Modi proposed that India host the next AI Summit to continue the momentum generated in Paris. “To build on the momentum of this Action Summit, India would be happy to host the next Summit,” he said.

The AI Action Summit brought together global leaders, policymakers, and technology experts to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, its ethical implications, and sustainable development.

PM Modi Calls for Responsible AI Governance at Paris Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday morning delivered the inaugural address at the AI Action Summit in Paris, emphasizing global cooperation in artificial intelligence governance and innovation.

Prime Minister Modi was joined by French President Emmanuel Macron as a co-chair at the summit. Other important dignitaries present included, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several heads or deputy heads of counties.

Speaking at the summit, PM Modi highlighted AI’s transformative power but cautioned against its potential risks. “AI is writing the code for humanity in this century. But it is very different from other technology milestones in human history,” he said.

He highlighted the biases that AI models can develop, stating, “If you upload your medical report to an AI app, it can explain in simple language what it means for your health. But, if you ask the same app to draw an image of someone writing with their left hand, it will most likely depict a right-handed writer. This shows the biases we need to address.”

The Prime Minister stressed the urgency of global cooperation in AI governance. “AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed, with deep interdependence across borders. We need collective global efforts to establish governance and standards that uphold shared values, address risks, and build trust,” he asserted.

However, Modi also cautioned that governance should not only focus on managing risks but also on promoting innovation. “We must think deeply and discuss openly about innovation and governance,” he added.

Addressing concerns about accessibility, Modi emphasized that AI should be inclusive. “Governance is also about ensuring access to all, especially in the Global South, where capacities are most lacking—whether in compute power, talent, data, or financial resources. AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture, and so much more.”

Modi also touched upon AI’s impact on employment. “Loss of jobs is AI’s most feared disruption. But history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology, its nature changes, and new types of jobs are created. We need to invest in skilling and re-skilling our people for an AI-driven future,” he remarked.

Energy sustainability in AI development was another key issue raised by the Prime Minister. “There is no doubt that the high energy intensity of AI needs to be looked into. This will require green power to fuel its future,” he noted.

Modi highlighted the India-France partnership in sustainability, stating, “India and France have worked together for years through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance. Advancing our partnership to AI is a natural progression from sustainability to innovation.”

India’s leadership in digital infrastructure and AI adoption also featured prominently in Modi’s address. “India has successfully built a Digital Public Infrastructure for over 1.4 billion people at a very low cost. We have unlocked the power of data through our Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture. This vision is the foundation of India’s National AI Mission,” he said.

During its G20 presidency, India played a key role in forging a global consensus on responsible AI development. “We built a consensus on Harnessing AI Responsibly, for Good, and for All. Today, India leads in AI adoption and techno-legal solutions on data privacy,” Modi stated.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the need for a human-centric AI approach. “We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity. Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans. That sense of responsibility must guide us.”

Following the summit, Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Macron to strengthen the India-France strategic partnership further. He will then travel to the United States on the second leg of his two-nation tour.

PM Modi arrived in Paris yesterday and was given a rousing reception by the French officials and ministers at the airport and by the Indian diaspora. Modi attended the dinner with President Macron and other leaders of the globe.

Modi’s latest visit to France also highlights the deepening ties between the two nations, building on a decades-long Strategic Partnership that has evolved to address emerging global challenges. The Prime Minister’s visit follows a series of high-profile diplomatic engagements.