Context: The article discusses India’s role in the AI Action Summit in Paris. It highlights India’s opportunity to advocate for AI resource access, promote relevant AI applications, and address AI risks for the Global South. Hosting the next summit could strengthen India’s global AI leadership.

• The summit ended with the Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet, which is in line with the Paris Pact for People and the Planet. 

• It calls for promoting AI accessibility to reduce digital divides, ensuring open, inclusive, transparent and trustworthy AI, enabling conditions for AI innovation, and encouraging AI deployment. 

What is the AI Action Summit in Paris?

• The AI Action Summit will be held in Paris on February 10-11, 2025. India is co-chairing the event with France.

• This is the third summit after the UK (2023) and South Korea (2024). The Paris summit will discuss AI safety, innovation, governance, and the future of work.

How has India engaged in global AI discussions?

• India participated in AI summits in the UK and South Korea.

• The UK summit focused on AI safety and led to the launch of the UK AI Safety Institute (AISI).

• The South Korea summit expanded discussions on multilateral cooperation. India has also announced its own AI Safety Institute.

• India has promoted AI for the Global South in multilateral forums. Under India’s G20 presidency in 2023, leaders agreed on a “pro-innovation regulatory approach” to balance AI growth with safety.

• India hosted the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) meeting in 2023, calling for equitable AI access.

Key outcomes of AI Action Summit

• Coalition for Environmentally Sustainable AI: It aims to ramp up global momentum to place AI on a more environmentally sustainable path.

• Initiated by France in collaboration with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) & International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

• India is a founding member.

• Current AI: It is a global public interest partnership to promote AI for public good, focussing on ‘data, openness & accountability’. 

• It aims at raising $2.5 billion over the next five years.

• India is a partner country.

• Paris Charter for AI of general interest: Agreed on principles of openness of AI to encourage scientific progress, innovation etc.; accountability at every stage of AI design; participation & transparency in AI for public interest.

• India adopted the charter.

• Paris Declaration on Maintaining Human Control in AI enabled Weapon Systems: India didn’t endorse the declaration.

Conclusion

• India’s participation in the Paris AI Action Summit is a pivotal moment for both the nation and the Global South.

• By advocating for democratised AI access, region-specific AI applications, and contextualised AI risk assessments, India can ensure that AI benefits are shared equitably across the world.

• Furthermore, securing a leadership role in future AI summits would reinforce India’s position as a key player in global AI governance.

• As artificial intelligence continues to shape the future, India’s proactive engagement in these discussions will be crucial in driving an inclusive and responsible AI ecosystem.