Experts from India and France convened at Sciences Po University in Paris on Monday to discuss policy and governance issues related to artificial intelligence, as global leaders gathered for the AI Action Summit in the French capital.

The second India-France AI Policy Roundtable, a key side event to the summit, was organized by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, the IndiaAI Mission, and Sciences Po Paris.

Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing India’s focus on responsible AI development, equitable access, and the establishment of a robust techno-legal framework. He highlighted the importance of India and France working together to address global challenges, leveraging their technological and policy strengths.

The roundtable discussions covered critical issues such as data protection, the role of AI foundation models, and data sovereignty. Delegates from both nations explored the complexities of cross-border data flows and the need for harmonized global AI governance frameworks.

Experts underscored the need to democratize AI access, establish internationally recognized AI standards, and promote ethical AI deployment. Key topics included the development of sovereign AI models, multilingual large language models (LLMs), federated AI infrastructure, and sustainable AI practices. The potential for India and France to collaborate on indigenous AI models and foster cross-border AI research and data-sharing initiatives was a focal point of discussion.

Building on the foundation set by the first India-France AI Policy Roundtable in Bengaluru, this second meeting furthered conversations on inclusive AI frameworks, diverse datasets, and the importance of public-private partnerships in ensuring responsible AI development for a global future.