Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong keynote address at the inaugural session of the AI Action Summit in Paris. Other notable attendees included French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The conference at the iconic Grand Palais kicked off a critical moment on the global stage for discussing the future of artificial intelligence (AI).
The Prime Minister will go ahead to engage in bilateral talks which will help make India’s strategic partnership with France even stronger as he continues to the United States for the other leg of the two-nation tour.
Building Quality Data Sets that are Bias-free: Building a Smarter Future through AI
At the summit, PM Modi also pointed out that the long-standing cooperation between India and France is based on the fact that “India and France have worked together for years through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance to harness the power of the Sun.” He underlined that developing their partnership in AI is a natural progression from sustainability to innovation.
#WATCH | During the AI Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says “India and France have worked together for years through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance to harness the power of the Sun. As we advance our partnership to AI, it… pic.twitter.com/7nrMunbMK0
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2025
He further elaborated on the need for sustainable AI, saying, “Sustainable AI does not only mean using clean energy. AI models must also be efficient and sustainable in size, data needs, and resource requirements. After all, the human brain manages to compose poetry and design spaceships using less power than most light bulbs.”
Digital Public Infrastructure and AI Development of India
PM Modi also emphasized India’s achievements in digital infrastructure, saying, “India has built a digital public infrastructure at a very low cost for 1.4 billion people.” He also appreciated the fact that India has a vast and diverse population and said that India is also developing its own AI language model to cater to its unique needs.
#WATCH | Addressing the AI Action Summit in Paris, PM Modi says, “India has successfully built a digital public infrastructure for over 1.4 billion people at a very low cost. It is built around an open and accessible network. It has regulations and a wide range of applications to… pic.twitter.com/ACQLDsOlCC
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2025
This initiative reflects India’s commitment to ensuring that AI benefits all sectors, especially in addressing challenges in a country of such complexity.
AI’s Impact on Jobs and the Future of Work
Responding to concerns about AI’s displacement of jobs, PM Modi said, “The most abhorred disruption AI can bring to the world is a loss of jobs, but experience has proved that work does not disappear, only its nature does. We must invest in skilling and re-skilling our people for the future led by AI.”
This emphasized the need to reform the workforce in relation to changing technological perceptions while also preparing them to survive in the environment brought about by AI.
As the AI Action Summit continues, PM Modi’s remarks underscore India’s active role in shaping the future of AI governance and the global discourse on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.
