Paris AI Summit

February 11, 2025

The Paris AI Summit was co-chaired by India and France at the Grand Palais, Paris. The summit builds on previous AI summits held in UK (November 2023) and South Korea (May 2024).

First AI Summit (2023, UK) & Bletchley Park Declaration

Known as the AI Safety Summit.
28 countries, including India, US, UK, EU, and China, signed the Bletchley Park Declaration.
The declaration aimed to regulate Frontier AI systems (advanced AI) to prevent misuse (terrorism, crime).

Second AI Summit (2024, Seoul)

16 major AI companies pledged to develop AI with transparency.
It highlighted the need for responsible AI development.

About the Third AI Summit (2o25, Paris)

Jointly chaired by PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, it witnessed the participation of over 90 countries.

Main Goals of the Summit

Make AI independent, safe, and accessible to everyone.
Develop environmentally friendly AI.
Create a global AI governance system that is effective and inclusive.

Key Themes Discussed

AI in public services.
Future of work and AI’s impact.
Innovation and AI’s role in culture.
Building trust in AI.
Global governance of AI.

Foundation for Global South

A new initiative will be launched to support AI development in developing countries.

What is Tech Sovereignty?

During the summit, French President Macron is pushing for tech sovereignty.
Tech sovereignty is a country’s ability to control and develop its own technology for economic, political, and social well-being.
Germany defines it as the ability of a state to implement policies without being dependent on foreign technology.
It is linked to terms like strategic autonomy, digital sovereignty, and regulatory sovereignty.
The concept gained importance due to Western sanctions on countries like Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Russia.

Importance of Tech Sovereignty

Reduces dependence on foreign technology.
Strengthens national security by limiting foreign influence.
Boosts economic growth through innovation and skilled job creation.
Protects digital infrastructure, ensuring resilience in critical sectors.
Encourages a democratic digital order, preventing monopoly by a few tech giants.

India’s Perspective

India’s push for tech sovereignty aligns with Digital India and initiatives in AI, semiconductor manufacturing, and cybersecurity.
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 allows India to regulate data sharing with other nations.
India’s involvement in global AI and digital policies reflects its growing focus on technological self-reliance.

India-France AI Roundtable

A side event to discuss global AI policies and India-France cooperation was organized during the summit.
The Second India-France Al Policy Roundtable was organized by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Indian Government, along with IISc Bengaluru, IndiaAI Mission, and Sciences Po Paris.
Key Discussion Points:
- Data protection & sovereignty
- AI foundation models
- Cross-border data flows & global AI governance

Important AI Strategies:
- Democratizing AI access (making AI available for all)
- Developing sovereign AI models (country-specific AI models)
- Creating multilingual AI models
- Federated AI infrastructure (decentralized AI networks)
- Sustainable AI practices
India-France AI Collaboration: Both countries plan to work together on:
- Building indigenous AI models
- Cross-border AI research
- Data-sharing initiatives

Future Prospects

The summit provided a platform for leaders to discuss the future of AI. It aimed to create a framework for international cooperation. The emphasis was on addressing the needs of the Global South and ensuring that AI serves the common good. The ongoing collaboration between India and France is expected to yield advancements in technology and governance.

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