The Indian IT Ministry, along with the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor and the industry body Nasscom, is set to host a roundtable discussion focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and data use during the upcoming Paris AI Action Summit. This gathering will take place from February 10 to 11, with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating as a co-chair.
This initiative follows a significant meeting that occurred on January 25 between Indian and French government officials in Bangalore. The discussions during this meeting centered on topics like AI governance and the development of AI systems tailored to national interests. The French representatives emphasized the importance of “cross-pollination,” where expertise from different sectors, such as healthcare and defense, can enhance AI technology.
In line with these discussions, India has already committed to financially supporting its companies in creating foundational AI models. Both countries are eager to collaborate on improving AI infrastructure, with potential announcements expected during the summit in Paris.
One of the primary goals of this partnership is to enhance access to advanced computing resources. India’s AI Mission has made impressive progress in this area by providing a 40% subsidy for discounted GPU prices, benefiting startups, researchers, and students.
Another key topic of discussion between India and France is the establishment of an AI incident database. This would aim to promote transparency and accountability within AI systems. A subcommittee appointed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has suggested that the government take a comprehensive approach to AI governance, including the creation of this database to better understand AI-related risks in India. A report on this matter has been released for public comments until February 27.
During the January 25 meeting, participants also discussed the sustainability of AI technologies and addressed concerns about market dominance by a few large companies. This meeting was co-chaired by Abhishek Singh, additional secretary at MeitY and CEO of the IndiaAI Mission, and Marc Lamy, the French consul general in Bangalore, with officials from various ministries and organizations in attendance.
