PM Modi Showcases India's AI and Investment Potential at Paris CEO Forum
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for investment in India while addressing the India-France CEO Forum in Paris. Speaking to top business leaders, he emphasized the forum's role in strengthening economic ties and fostering innovation between the two nations.
"This is more than just a business event it's a convergence of the brightest minds from India and France. You are embracing the mantra of innovation, collaboration, and elevation, driving progress with purpose. Beyond forging boardroom connections, you are actively reinforcing the strategic partnership between India and France," PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister highlighted that India and France share a strong foundation of trust, common values, and a shared vision for global progress. He noted that their collaboration extends beyond trade and business, addressing global challenges together.
"India and France aren't just connected by democratic values. Deep trust, innovation, and serving the people are the pillars of our friendship. Our relationship isn't limited to just our two nations. Together, we're providing solutions to global problems", he stated.
On the sidelines of the CEO Forum, PM Modi also met with Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai during the AI Action Summit in Paris. Pichai hailed the "incredible opportunities" that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring to India and emphasized Google's commitment to collaborating with the country. Taking to social media platform X, Pichai said, "Delighted to meet with PM Narendra Modi today while in Paris for the AI Action Summit. We discussed the incredible opportunities AI will bring."
PM Modi co-chaired the AI Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, underscoring the importance of responsible AI development. The summit, attended by global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts, concluded with discussions on India and France's growing collaboration in technology and innovation.
Addressing the summit, PM Modi emphasized India’s leadership in AI adoption, digital public infrastructure, and techno-legal solutions for data privacy. He highlighted that India's AI ecosystem is backed by a vast talent pool and a commitment to ethical AI development. "India has successfully built a digital public infrastructure for over 1.4 billion people at a very low cost. It is built around an open and accessible network. It has regulations and a wide range of applications to modernize our economy, reform governance, and transform the lives of our people. Today, India leads in AI adoption and techno-legal solutions on data privacy. We have one of the world’s largest AI talent pools", PM Modi stated.
He also reiterated India's role in shaping global AI policies, referencing the G20 consensus on harnessing AI responsibly. "We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity", he added.
PM Modi underscored the need for AI to be sustainable and efficient in its energy and resource usage. Drawing a parallel with the International Solar Alliance, he noted that India's AI advancements align with its broader commitment to sustainability. "India and France have worked together for years through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance to harness the power of the Sun. As we advance our partnership with AI, it is a natural progression from sustainability to innovation to shape a smarter and responsible future. At the same time, sustainable AI does not only mean using clean energy. AI models must also be efficient and sustainable in size, data needs, and resource requirements. After all, the human brain manages to compose poetry and design spaceships using less power than most light bulbs", he remarked.
Highlighting India's diversity as a driving force behind its AI development, he stated that India is building its own large language models and adopting a unique public-private partnership model to support AI research and innovation. "We also have a unique public-private partnership model for pooling resources like computing power. It is made available to our startups and researchers at an affordable cost. India is ready to share its experience and expertise to ensure that the AI future is for good and for all", he said.
PM Modi addressed concerns about AI surpassing human intelligence, asserting that responsible governance will be crucial in shaping its future. "Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans. That sense of responsibility must guide us", he concluded.
The summit and CEO Forum marked a significant step in strengthening India-France ties, reinforcing their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation.
