Paris AI Summit 2024, Governance, Innovation, and Global AI Leadership (2025)

Paris AI Action Summit Latest News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
• The week-long summit (which began with the Science Days on February 6-7) concluded with a High-Level Segment featuring global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts.

AI Action Summit

• The AI Action Summit is a high-profile international event focused on advancing discussions and collaborations in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Hosted by France, the summit was co-chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
• It brought together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and researchers to explore the transformative potential of AI in various sectors.

Themes of AI Action Summit

• The summit will focus on five main areas:
  • Public Interest AI
  • Future of Work
  • Innovation and Culture
  • Trust in AI
  • Global AI Governance

Key Takeaways from the AI Action Summit

• AI Declaration
  • The US and UK refused to sign the summit’s declaration on “inclusive and sustainable” AI, citing concerns over excessive regulation.
  • 60 nations, including India and China, supported the declaration, which promotes AI accessibility, sustainability, human rights, and transparency.
• Key objectives of the declaration
  • Accessibility of AI: Ensuring AI is available to all and does not create technological divides.
  • Trust and Safety: Deploying AI in a way that is ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.
  • Economic and Labor Market Development: Encouraging AI innovation while preventing market concentration and ensuring positive impacts on labor markets.
  • Support for Developing Countries: Narrowing inequalities and assisting nations in AI capacity-building.
• Coalition for Sustainable AI launched
  • The Coalition for Sustainable AI was initiated by the French government in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
  • The coalitionaims to create a driving force that brings together various actors committed to working towards sustainable AI.
  • The UK joined the Coalition for Sustainable AI but emphasized national interests, while the US criticized Europe’s regulatory approach.
  • India has also joined the coalition.
• Current AI Launched
  • A new global public interest AI Foundation called Current AI was launched at the AI Action Summit in Paris.
  • With an initial $400M investment, Current AI aims to reshape the existing AI landscape by developing and supporting large-scale initiatives that serve the public interest.
  • It was launched to promote AI for public good, aiming to counterbalance private-sector dominance. It will foster public-private collaboration in the field of AI.

PM Modi’s Address at the AI Action Summit: Key Highlights

• The Dawn of the AI Age
  • PM Modi emphasized that the world is at the beginning of the AI revolution, which is rapidly reshaping governance, the economy, security, and society.
• Call for a Global AI Framework
  • Modi advocated for a global governance structure for AI that promotes innovation while ensuring fair access, especially for the Global South, which lacks compute power, talent, data, and financial resources.
• Open-Source AI for Trust and Transparency
  • He stressed the importance of open-source AI systems and bias-free datasets to enhance trust and transparency.
  • Modi urged global collaboration in pooling resources and talent to democratize AI technology.
• AI and the Future of Jobs
  • Acknowledging concerns over job losses due to AI, Modi reassured that history has shown technology does not eliminate work but rather changes its nature.
  • He stressed the need for skilling and reskilling to prepare for an AI-driven future.
• The Need for Sustainable AI
  • Modi highlighted AI’s high energy consumption and called for green power solutions.
  • He also emphasized making AI models efficient in size, data needs, and resource requirements to ensure sustainability.
• India to Host the Next AI Summit
  • Modi proposed that India host the next AI Summit, an offer that was accepted.
  • He reiterated India’s commitment to sharing expertise and experiences in AI for the global good.
• Strengthening Global AI Partnerships
  • Modi welcomed the establishment of the AI Foundation and the Council for Sustainable AI, assuring India’s full support.
  • He also called for the Global Partnership for AI to be more inclusive of the Global South.

Paris AI Action Summit FAQs

Q1. What is the purpose of the ITU (International Telecommunication Union)?

Ans. The ITU is a specialized UN agency that coordinates global telecom, radio-frequency management, and standardization for efficient communication networks.

Q2. Is India a member of ITU?

Ans. Yes, India has been a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) since 1869, actively participating in global telecom policies.

Q3. What is the UN Environment Programme?

Ans. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is a global authority that promotes sustainable environmental policies and international cooperation on climate issues.

Q4. Where is the headquarters of the UN Environment Programme?

Ans. The headquarters of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is located in Nairobi, Kenya.

Q5. What do you mean by sustainable AI?

Ans. Sustainable AI refers to AI development and usage that minimizes environmental impact while ensuring ethical, inclusive, and long-term societal benefits.

Source: TH | IE | MEA | CNBC