Paris:
In a significant address at the AI Action Summit in Paris, co-chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, global leaders and tech executives gathered to discuss the transformative power and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The summit underscored the importance of making AI people-centric, transparent, and free from biases, while highlighting India’s advancements in AI technology and its commitment to sustainable development.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need for AI to benefit all, particularly the Global South, and cautioned against the biases inherent in AI systems. He stressed the importance of developing open-source systems, enhancing trust and transparency, and creating quality datasets free from biases. Modi also addressed critical concerns related to cybersecurity, disinformation, and deepfakes, emphasizing that these issues must be tackled to ensure AI serves humanity effectively.
Modi highlighted AI’s vast potential to transform lives across various sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, and science. He noted that AI can significantly aid in achieving sustainable development goals by making the journey to these goals easier and faster. However, he acknowledged that one of the most feared disruptions caused by AI is job loss.
While acknowledging the fear of job losses, PM Modi reassured that history has shown that technology does not eliminate work but rather changes the nature of jobs. He emphasized the need for heavy investment in skilling and re-skilling people to prepare them for an AI-driven future. This approach, Modi argued, would ensure that workers can adapt to the evolving job landscape and take advantage of new opportunities created by AI.
The prime minister also discussed the necessity for sustainable AI, highlighting the high energy intensity of current AI technologies and the need for green energy to power them. He cited the example of the human brain, which can perform complex tasks at a fraction of the energy used by an ordinary light bulb, as a model for the AI revolution. The International Solar Alliance, a collaboration between India and France, was mentioned as a key initiative to ensure a green energy supply for future technologies.
Modi praised India’s digital public infrastructure, built at a low cost and designed to be open and accessible. This infrastructure, he said, has modernized India’s economy, reformed governance, and transformed the lives of its people. India’s national AI mission is focused on public good, with ongoing developments in AI applications and a unique public-private partnership model.
India is also developing its own large language model, taking into account the country’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape. This initiative, along with others, reflects India’s commitment to ensuring that the future of AI is beneficial for everyone.
The AI Action Summit, attended by a diverse array of global leaders, tech CEOs, academics, and civil society members, marked a significant step in international cooperation on AI. PM Modi congratulated President Macron for hosting the inaugural summit and expressed India’s interest in hosting the next AI Action Summit, further solidifying the country’s role in shaping the global AI agenda.
