February 11, 2025
The AI Action Summit in Paris, co-chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brings global leaders together to discuss AI governance
The summit focuses on public service AI, future of work, innovation, trust in AI, and global governance
China’s DeepSeek, a low-cost AI model, has disrupted the US-led AI industry, raising concerns about OpenAI’s competitive edge
China’s DeepSeek, a low-cost AI model, has disrupted the US-led AI industry, raising concerns about OpenAI’s competitive edge
France is at the heart of the global AI debate as the third AI Action Summit begins in Paris. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chairs the discussions. The event, which follows previous editions in the UK and South Korea, brings together world leaders and tech executives to shape the future of AI governance.
The two-day summit aims to expand AI accessibility, promote environmentally sustainable AI models, and establish effective global governance frameworks. Discussions will centre on five key themes: AI in public services, future workforce implications, innovation and culture, trust and security, and international AI governance. A major outcome is expected to be the establishment of a foundation to serve AI needs in the Global South.
A critical shift in the AI landscape has been the emergence of China’s DeepSeek. This open-source model has disrupted the AI sector by challenging dominant US firms such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. DeepSeek’s low-cost training approach has sparked industry-wide conversations about the accessibility of AI innovation. The presence of key figures, including US Vice President JD Vance, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, signals growing geopolitical stakes in AI leadership.
For India, the summit is crucial as it ramps up efforts to develop its own AI ecosystem. The Indian government has selected 10 firms, including Jio Platforms and Tata Communications, to supply nearly 19,000 GPUs—crucial for training AI models—significantly exceeding its initial procurement target under the ₹10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission. Plans are also underway to fund the development of Indigenous large language models (LLMs) tailored to India’s needs with government-backed financial support.
France is also positioning itself as a leading AI hub, with local firm Mistral making strides in AI development. The Second India-France AI Policy Roundtable, held alongside the summit, will explore policy collaboration opportunities.
As AI regulations evolve globally, differing approaches have emerged. The European Union has pushed for stringent regulations categorising AI based on risk, while the UK has opted for a more flexible framework that prioritises innovation. The US is expected to adopt a moderate stance, with potential regulatory shifts under the current administration. Meanwhile, China has introduced its own measures to regulate AI, reflecting the technology’s growing strategic significance.
The summit underscores AI’s increasing role in shaping economic and geopolitical dynamics as nations navigate the challenges of innovation, regulation, and ethical deployment.
Source: Indian Express