Paris (France), February 12: The AI Action Summit held in Paris highlighted the urgency of strengthening a diverse and inclusive AI ecosystem, with an emphasis on a human-centric, rights-based, and ethical approach to artificial intelligence. The summit stressed the importance of addressing inequalities, promoting AI accessibility, and supporting capacity-building efforts in developing countries.
The summit saw participation from 58 countries, alongside the European Union and African Union, which signed a joint statement following the summit. Notably, the United States and the United Kingdom did not sign the statement.
The joint statement, titled ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet,’ underscored the need to create an AI ecosystem that is not only ethical, safe, and secure but also one that upholds human rights and fosters trust. It emphasized the importance of narrowing the digital divide and providing AI capacity-building support to developing nations to help them advance their AI capabilities.
The statement also acknowledged ongoing international initiatives on AI, such as the UN General Assembly Resolutions, the Global Digital Compact, and the work of organizations like UNESCO, the G7, G20, and the European Union. These efforts contribute to laying the groundwork for international cooperation on AI governance.
A range of priorities for AI development were outlined in the statement:
- Promoting AI accessibility to reduce digital inequalities.
- Ensuring ethical, transparent, and inclusive AI development.
- Fostering innovation while avoiding market concentration that may hinder industrial growth.
- Encouraging the deployment of AI to positively shape the future of work and labor markets.
- Making AI sustainable for both people and the planet.
- Reinforcing international cooperation for effective governance and policy coordination in AI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on an official visit to France, co-chaired the summit with French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit marked a significant moment in the growing dialogue on the ethical and inclusive development of AI.
Following the AI Action Summit, PM Modi is set to visit the United States on February 12-13 for discussions with US President Donald Trump and other senior members of the US administration.