PM Modi to Attend AI Action Summit in France, India Advances Its Own AI Program
In a significant development on the global artificial intelligence (AI) front, the Indian government has confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the upcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in France. The event is set to take place on February 10-11 at the Grand Palais, where world leaders, international organizations, CEOs, and other key stakeholders will gather to discuss the future of AI.
At a recent press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the update, adding that India is also committed to advancing its own AI capabilities. “The French President has invited Prime Minister Modi, and India has accepted the invitation. We will share further details about the summit soon,” Jaiswal said. He emphasized that India is developing a robust AI program in parallel, aiming to establish itself as a key player in the field of AI technology.
The AI Action Summit in France will bring together a diverse array of experts, from government officials and tech CEOs to academics and artists, providing a platform for cross-sector collaboration on the future of AI. The event will focus on action-oriented discussions around shaping the global landscape of artificial intelligence and its societal implications.
In addition to engaging on the international stage, India has been making significant strides in strengthening its own AI infrastructure. Jaiswal noted that India is in discussions with various partners to further develop its AI program, including collaborations in the technology sector. His remarks also highlighted that the Indian government is preparing to host open-source AI models like DeepSeek on Indian servers.
This move comes after Chinese startup DeepSeek, known for its open-source reasoning model R1, made waves by challenging the notion that large amounts of GPU hardware are needed to build advanced AI models. In response to this, India is setting up a portal where startups and researchers can access GPUs at more affordable rates, significantly enhancing the country’s capacity to develop AI models and solutions.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also confirmed that India would soon begin hosting these open-source models on Indian servers. He said the government has already worked out the necessary infrastructure, including server capacity, to support the initiative. This aligns with India’s broader goal to position itself as a leader in AI research and development.
As the global AI landscape continues to evolve, India’s participation in the AI Action Summit and its ongoing investment in AI technology signal the country’s growing role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. The collaboration with international partners, along with the strengthening of domestic AI capabilities, reflects India’s commitment to technological innovation and its ambition to contribute meaningfully to the global AI conversation.
