PM Narendra Modi Advocates for Fair and Democratic AI at Paris Summit

Paris, 11th February 2025: During the AI Summit in Paris on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, co-chairing the event, emphasized the need for an unbiased and democratic approach to artificial intelligence. He expressed gratitude to French President Emmanuel Macron for hosting the summit and inviting him to co-chair, highlighting AI’s transformative role in reshaping the economy, security, and society.

Modi stressed the necessity of global standards to address AI-related challenges, particularly in ensuring access for all, especially in the Global South, where resources such as power, talent, and financial support are often limited. He pointed out that AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, education, and agriculture, making the path toward sustainable development goals more achievable. However, for AI to be effective, global collaboration is needed to pool resources and talent.

Calling for open-source AI systems, Modi underscored the importance of transparency, trust, and the elimination of biases from data sets. He also highlighted pressing concerns such as cybersecurity, disinformation, and deepfakes, emphasizing that AI must be rooted in local ecosystems to maximize its impact.

One of the most debated aspects of AI is its potential to disrupt jobs. Modi acknowledged this concern but pointed out that history has shown work does not vanish with technological advancements—it only evolves. He urged investments in skilling and re-skilling the workforce to prepare for an AI-driven future.

Given AI’s rapid development and widespread adoption, Modi called for global cooperation to establish governance frameworks that uphold shared values, mitigate risks, and build trust. He also emphasized the need for AI models to be efficient and sustainable, noting that the human brain can create poetry and design spacecraft while consuming less power than most light bulbs.

Highlighting India’s advancements, Modi pointed out that the country has successfully built a digital public infrastructure serving over 1.4 billion people at minimal cost. This system is open, accessible, and regulated, with diverse applications that modernize the economy, reform governance, and enhance lives. He further noted that India is a leader in AI adoption and data privacy solutions and boasts one of the world’s largest AI talent pools.