Modi Calls for Global AI Governance at Paris Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a unified global approach to establish governance frameworks and standards for artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, where he co-chaired alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Modi emphasized the transformative potential of AI and the necessity for international collaboration in shaping its future.

“We stand at the dawn of an AI era that will redefine humanity,” Modi said during his closing speech at the two-day summit, attended by world leaders and industry experts. Stressing that governance should not only focus on mitigating risks but also fostering innovation, he echoed positions advocated by France and the European Union.

The summit concluded with over 100 countries signing a nonbinding declaration for “inclusive and sustainable” AI. However, the U.K. and the U.S. notably declined to endorse the agreement. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, attending the summit, voiced concerns over what he saw as excessive EU regulations and cautioned against collaboration with China, amid intensifying technological competition between Washington and Beijing.

China’s role in AI development has drawn attention following the emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese startup that recently unveiled technology comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT at significantly lower costs. The U.S.-China rivalry in AI has spurred the EU to adjust its policies, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing a €200 billion investment in AI, a quarter of which will be sourced from the EU budget. Meanwhile, France alone has pledged €109 billion ($113 billion) toward AI innovation.

Modi underscored the importance of ensuring AI accessibility for developing nations, particularly those in the Global South. “We must think deeply and discuss openly about innovation and governance,” he said. “Governance must also ensure equal access to AI technology, especially for less developed nations.”

Experts noted that Modi’s participation brought attention to the concerns of countries that have largely been excluded from AI governance discussions. Patrizia Cogo, a researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), said India was advocating for the interests of numerous emerging economies. Similarly, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that AI’s development is currently controlled by a select few, which could widen global inequalities.

Following the summit, Modi and Macron held discussions with about 30 CEOs from leading French and Indian companies before heading to Marseille. There, they inaugurated the Indian consulate and visited an international nuclear energy research facility where around 200 Indian engineers are working.

France is positioning Marseille as a key gateway for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a project seen as India’s strategic counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The port city is competing with Italy’s Trieste and Greece’s Piraeus, the latter controlled by China’s COSCO shipping company, to become the Western endpoint of IMEC.

Nivruti Rai, CEO of Invest India, highlighted the importance of diplomatic ties in shaping trade routes. “Whenever relations between India and a country are strong, business naturally follows,” she said, citing France as a reliable partner.

The growing partnership between India and Europe is also being viewed as a strategic move to reduce dependence on China. “This corridor is part of a broader strategy shared by the EU and India to mitigate risks associated with economic reliance on China,” said CIDOB’s Cogo. She added that strengthening ties with Western allies could provide India with greater strategic flexibility in dealing with both China and Russia.

France has emerged as India’s second-largest arms supplier, playing a crucial role in defense, transportation, energy, and aerospace collaborations. Both countries are currently negotiating a deal for additional French Rafale fighter jets, and talks are in advanced stages regarding the purchase of a multibarrel rocket launcher system.

On the sidelines of the summit, Macron also met with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing to discuss AI governance. The French presidency stated that both nations expressed interest in playing a greater role in shaping global AI regulations while managing associated risks. Macron reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining an “open and demanding” dialogue with China, particularly regarding trade relations between the EU and Beijing.

China is set to host its own AI-related Global Developer Conference in Shanghai from February 21 to 23, signaling its ongoing push for leadership in the sector.