Knowledge Booster: Paris AI Action Summit

Subject: Science & Technology, International Relations
Relevance: AI and DPI are key current trends. India is investing heavily in indigenous AI models. This summit and India’s role highlight important issues for UPSC, including sustainable AI use, global cooperation, and India’s leadership potential.

Why in the News?

• PM Modi addressed the Paris AI Action Summit, co-chaired by India and France.

• He called for a global framework for AI that upholds shared values, addresses risks, builds trust, and ensures access for all, especially the Global South.

Key Outcomes and Themes of the Paris AI Action Summit

• Building on Previous Summits: The Paris Summit builds on:

  • UK AI Safety Summit (2023): Focused on “doomsday” concerns. Led to the Bletchley Declaration on AI Safety.

  • Seoul Summit: Reaffirmed commitment to international cooperation on AI and proposed a network of AI Safety Institutes.

• Objectives of the Paris Summit:

  • Access to independent, safe, and reliable AI.

  • Environmentally friendly AI.

  • Effective and inclusive global governance of AI.

• Focus Areas:

  • Public service AI

  • Future of work

  • Innovation and culture

  • Trust in AI

  • Global governance of AI

Key Points from PM Modi’s Address

• Open Source and Bias-Free AI: Emphasized the need for open-source systems to enhance trust and transparency and build data sets free from biases.

• AI and Energy: Highlighted the high energy intensity of AI and the need for green power to fuel its future. Sustainable AI must be efficient in size, data needs, and resource requirements.

• Optimism on Jobs: History has shown that technology changes the nature of work and creates new jobs. Investment in skilling and re-skilling is crucial.

• Governance in AI for the Global South: Emphasized ensuring access to AI for all, especially in the Global South, where capacities are lacking.

• India’s Potential: Cited India’s success in building a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for 1.4 billion people at low cost, built around an open and accessible network.

  • India has unlocked the power of data through its data empowerment and protection architecture.

India: Areas for Global Cooperation on AI

1. Global Partnership on AI (GPAI): India is a founding member and lead chair for 2025, working to make GPAI the nodal partnership for global cooperation.

2. Bridging the AI Divide: India is pushing for inclusive AI Governance to bridge the widening AI divide between countries.

3. Global South Priorities: India is advocating for the empowerment of voices from the Global South in the discourse around cooperation on AI.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

• Foundational digital systems are accessible, secure, and interoperable in supporting essential public services.

• Two Categories:

  • Foundational: Aadhaar, UPI, Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) – create robust digital rails.

  • Sectoral: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission – specialized services tailored to specific sectors.

• Success Story: CoWIN platform, which utilized Aadhaar-based authentication to facilitate the administration of COVID-19 vaccines.