‘AI is Writing the Code for Humanity’: PM Modi at AI Action Summit in Paris

Paris: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the AI Action Summit in Paris on 11 February, emphasized the transformative impact of artificial intelligence while calling for a global, responsible, and inclusive approach to its governance.

Co-chairing the summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi underscored the need for international collaboration to harness AI’s potential for societal good while addressing its inherent risks and biases.

In his opening remarks, PM Modi illustrated both the power and pitfalls of AI with a simple experiment.

“If you upload your medical report to an AI app, it can explain in simple language, free of any jargon, what it means for your health. But, if you ask the same app to draw an image of someone writing with their left hand, the app will most likely draw someone writing with their right hand. Because that is what the training data is dominated by,” PM Modi explained, highlighting the challenges posed by biased AI models.

The Prime Minister called AI a technology milestone unlike any other, given its rapid development and adoption. “AI is writing the code for humanity in this century,” he said while stressing the urgency of establishing global governance frameworks that balance innovation with safeguards.

“Governance is not just about managing risks and rivalries. It is also about promoting innovation, and deploying it for the global good,” he added.

India’s Vision for AI

PM Modi pointed to India’s leadership in AI adoption and regulatory solutions. He emphasized that India has built a successful digital public infrastructure for 1.4 billion people at a minimal cost.

“We have unlocked the power of data through our Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture. And, we have made digital commerce democratic and accessible to all,” PM Modi stated, noting that this vision forms the foundation of India’s National AI Mission.

During its G20 presidency, India played a key role in forging a consensus on responsible AI use, ensuring that technology serves humanity rather than creating new divides.

“India is developing AI applications for public good. We have one of the world’s largest AI talent pools. India is building its own Large Language Model considering our diversity,” PM Modi said, outlining the country’s commitment to AI-driven growth.

A Call for Global Cooperation

PM Modi stressed the need for democratizing AI and ensuring accessibility for all, particularly for nations in the Global South.

“It is where the capacities are most lacking – be it compute power, talent, data, or financial resources,” he noted, urging nations to pool resources and talent to create unbiased, open-source AI systems.

The environmental impact of AI was another key concern raised by PM Modi. Acknowledging AI’s high energy consumption, he advocated for integrating AI with green energy sources.

“The high energy intensity of AI needs to be looked into. This will require green power to fuel its future,” PM Modi stated. He highlighted the India-France collaboration on the International Solar Alliance as a model for sustainable AI advancement.

Looking toward the future, PM Modi reaffirmed the importance of human oversight in AI’s development, dismissing fears of machines surpassing human intelligence.

“No one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans,” he asserted, calling for responsible innovation that aligns AI’s evolution with humanity’s best interests.

The AI Action Summit in Paris, attended by global leaders, technology experts, and policymakers, focused on charting a responsible path for AI governance, reinforcing shared values, and fostering cooperation in an increasingly AI-driven world.

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