Prime Minister Narendra Modi, co-chairing the AI Action Summit in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighted the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and stressed the importance of establishing a global framework to ensure that the technology benefits all nations, particularly those in the Global South.
AI’s Global Impact
Addressing the summit, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the world is witnessing the dawn of the AI age, with the technology reshaping economies, societies, and even national security. He stressed the urgent need for a global effort to establish AI governance standards that promote values, manage risks, and build trust.
Modi said, “AI is already re-shaping our polity, our economy, our security and even our society. AI is writing the code for humanity in this century. But, it is very different from other technology milestones in human history.”
He added, “AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed. And being adopted and deployed even faster. There is also a deep inter-dependence across borders. Therefore, there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards, that uphold our shared values, address risks and build trust.”
Modi explained that governance should go beyond risk management, also promoting the responsible deployment of AI for the global good. He highlighted that the Global South faces resource challenges, including talent, data, and finances, making AI access crucial for these regions.
Modi also called for open-source systems to build trust and transparency, advocating for AI data sets free from biases. He explained how AI trained on right-handed data may misrepresent left-handed people, stressing the need for unbiased, inclusive data.
Addressing Job Displacement and Sustainability
The Prime Minister addressed job concerns, stating that while AI may disrupt roles, it will also create new opportunities.
Modi acknowledged the high energy demands of AI and emphasized the importance of green energy to power AI technologies sustainably. Drawing a parallel to India’s work with France in the International Solar Alliance, he pointed out that sustainable AI should not only rely on clean energy but also be efficient in terms of data and resource usage.
“After all, the human brain manages to compose poetry and design spaceships using less power than most light bulbs,” he stated.
Also read: PM Modi Unveils India’s 500 GW Renewable Energy Roadmap at India Energy Week
India’s Vision for AI
Highlighting India’s achievements in AI, Modi shared the country’s success in building a Digital Public Infrastructure for over 1.4 billion people at a minimal cost. He highlighted India’s open digital network, backed by regulations and diverse applications that are transforming the economy and governance.
Modi concluded by emphasizing that India’s experience and expertise will be crucial in shaping an AI future that benefits everyone. He reaffirmed that humanity controls AI’s future, easing concerns about machines surpassing human intelligence.
“We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity. Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But, no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans,” he said.
India to Host Next AI Summit
S Krishnan, Secretary of India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, confirmed that the next AI summit would be hosted in India later this year, as proposed by Prime Minister Modi. The offer was warmly received, with the summit organizers acknowledging India’s growing leadership in the AI space.
In his concluding remarks, Modi supported the creation of the ‘AI Foundation’ and the ‘Council for Sustainable AI’ initiatives by France. He urged the Global Partnership for AI to be more inclusive, emphasizing the concerns and needs of the Global South.
