The Paris AI Summit 2025 marked a significant milestone in international AI governance. Co-chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, the summit was held at the Grand Palais, Paris, bringing together representatives from over 90 countries. The event built upon the foundations laid by previous AI summits in the UK (2023) and South Korea (2024) and focused on shaping a safe, accessible, and independent AI ecosystem.
A Look Back: Previous AI Summits
First AI Summit (2023, UK) – Bletchley Park Declaration
- The AI Safety Summit in the UK was attended by 28 nations, including India, the US, the UK, the EU, and China.
- Leaders signed the Bletchley Park Declaration, aiming to regulate Frontier AI systems and prevent their misuse in terrorism, crime, and other threats.
Second AI Summit (2024, Seoul) – AI Transparency Commitment
- 16 major AI companies pledged to develop AI with greater transparency.
- The summit stressed the importance of responsible AI development and ethical considerations.
Paris AI Summit 2025: A Global Vision for AI
The third AI Summit in Paris had three main objectives:
- Ensuring AI is safe, independent, and accessible to all.
- Developing environmentally sustainable AI technologies.
- Establishing a robust global AI governance system.
Key Themes Discussed at the Summit
- AI in public services – How AI can enhance governance and citizen services.
- Future of work – The impact of AI on jobs and labor markets.
- AI in culture & innovation – AI’s role in artistic and technological advancements.
- Building trust in AI – Ethical concerns and bias mitigation.
- Global AI governance – Creating a unified framework for AI regulation.
India-France AI Roundtable: Strengthening AI Partnerships
On the sidelines of the summit, India and France held the Second India-France AI Policy Roundtable. Organized by India’s Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) along with IISc Bengaluru, IndiaAI Mission, and Sciences Po Paris, the roundtable focused on:
- Data protection and digital sovereignty.
- Developing sovereign AI models for national security.
- Cross-border AI research and global AI governance.
- Creating multilingual AI models to bridge linguistic gaps.
- Sustainable AI infrastructure and responsible data-sharing policies.
Both countries emphasized their commitment to indigenous AI models, federated AI networks, and AI democratization.
Tech Sovereignty: A Core Focus of the Summit
French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the need for tech sovereignty, which refers to a nation’s ability to control and develop its own technology for economic, political, and strategic stability.
Why Tech Sovereignty Matters
- Reduces dependency on foreign technology.
- Strengthens national security by minimizing foreign influence in critical sectors.
- Encourages economic growth through domestic AI innovation.
- Promotes a democratic digital order, preventing monopolies by global tech giants.
India’s Stand on Tech Sovereignty
India’s push for technological independence aligns with its Digital India initiative. Policies such as the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which regulates data sharing with foreign entities, underscore India’s commitment to data sovereignty.
Future Prospects: A Roadmap for AI Collaboration
The Paris AI Summit 2025 laid the groundwork for enhanced global AI cooperation, with a strong emphasis on supporting developing nations through the Foundation for the Global South initiative.
The growing India-France AI partnership is expected to foster:
- Joint AI research and development.
- Secure and ethical AI deployment across industries.
- Cross-border data-sharing frameworks.
As AI continues to shape the future, the outcomes of this summit will play a crucial role in guiding ethical, transparent, and inclusive AI development on a global scale.