Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to co-host the AI Action Summit in France, marking the third summit in this series, following previous editions held in the UK in 2023 and South Korea in 2024. With recent developments in AI, such as the release of Deepseek’s disruptive AI version and extensive commitments made by US President Trump for AI innovation and development, it becomes imperative to understand how AI directly impacts people’s lives.
A detailed examination of the real concerns surrounding AI taking away jobs, and why the world is racing to advance AI, must be provided for a more realistic perspective.
What is the AI Action Summit and what is at stake for its hosts?
The AI Action Summit is the latest event in a series of global dialogues focused on AI governance. This year, the summit is being held in France, co-hosted by Prime Minister Modi and President Macron. The summit’s objectives center around tech sovereignty, the development of environmentally friendly AI, AI accessibility, and global governance.
Macron has repeatedly emphasized the importance of “tech sovereignty” at the heart of this summit, which is especially significant as the USA and China, two giants in the field, compete for a dominant position in the AI landscape.
For India and France, both of which have tremendous potential for technological innovation and application, this summit provides an opportunity to recalibrate how the world views AI advancements.
Macron has advocated for over $100 billion in AI investments, while India has its own AI mission and is recognized globally for its ability to drive scientific innovations at a fraction of the cost. Consequently, France and India position themselves as leaders in the AI revolution with a global perspective, offering alternatives to the currently dominant forces.
Impact of AI on daily lives and the significance of such summits
From recommendations on social media to self-driving cars, AI is embedded in a dense network of applications that shape daily life. AI can be understood as algorithms designed to simulate human intelligence. Often perceived as a high-end technology that will disrupt markets and societal functioning, AI should instead be viewed as a technology that enhances human capacity, supplementing human intelligence rather than replacing it.
Just as the Industrial Revolution reshaped economic balances, AI now sits at the core of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. While it is inevitable that AI will transform labor markets, it will also generate new jobs and open new markets. McKinsey Global estimates that AI will create around 50 million jobs by 2030, leading to increased demand for AI specialists.
With automation and AI assistance, new avenues for exploration will emerge. Summits like the AI Action Summit help establish a global framework for AI development and application, redefine public-private partnerships, and ensure an equitable and just future in the context of technology.
These summits promote dialogue on the scope of AI’s development while providing a global platform to discuss its applications. As society and industry learn to grow with AI, these summits ensure its adoption is fair, effective, and sustainable.
What to expect in the future for India?
India’s leadership role in global technology governance is underscored by its co-chairmanship of the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence. The country has already announced its own AI model and is working on the India AI Mission, launched in March 2024.
The AI model begins with a computational facility of roughly 10,000 GPUs, with 8,693 more GPUs to be added. While global models’ computational costs range from $2.5 to $3 per hour, India’s AI model will cost less than half that after a 40% government subsidy.
In 2024, India also hosted the Global IndiaAI Summit, marking a significant milestone in the country’s AI journey, bringing together over 12,000 global AI experts, practitioners, and delegates from 50 countries.
With one of the youngest populations and a leader in trained technologists, India stands as one of the most fertile grounds for the future of AI’s advancement. According to BCG, India’s AI market is growing at a CAGR of 25-35% and is projected to reach around $17 billion by 2027.
With its vast talent pool, growing digital infrastructure, and government initiatives India stands at the helm of this revolution. As PM Modi has iterated, AI in India does not stand just for artificial intelligence but also for Aspirational India.
Therefore, The AI Action Summit represents a pivotal moment in shaping the global AI landscape. Co-hosted by India and France, this summit not only showcases the countries’ leadership in AI development but also emphasizes the importance of tech sovereignty, responsible governance, and equitable access.
As AI continues to impact daily life from job creation to market disruption the summit’s discussions on its ethical and sustainable deployment are vital. India’s focus on affordable AI and its growing influence in global technology governance strengthens its position in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Moving forward, these global dialogues will ensure that AI’s benefits are shared universally, while mitigating its challenges, thus fostering a future where technology shapes society in a sustainable manner, a future where technology is for all.
