PM Modi recently addressed the Plenary Session at the AI Action Summit in Paris, where he emphasized the transformative potential of AI across various sectors like health, education, agriculture, and security. He noted that AI is re-shaping the global landscape at an unprecedented scale, but also raised concerns about its biases, particularly in areas like medical reports and image generation.
The Need for Global Governance in AI
AI’s rapid development calls for a global collaborative effort in governance and standards that align with shared values and address associated risks. PM Modi stressed that governance should not only manage these risks but also foster innovation that benefits the global community. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that AI’s benefits reach everyone, especially in the Global South, which faces significant barriers like limited access to computing power, talent, and financial resources.
AI for Sustainable Development
AI holds immense potential in helping nations achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by improving vital sectors. PM Modi highlighted the need for open-source systems, transparent data sets, and people-centric applications to ensure AI serves the greater good while tackling concerns related to cyber security and disinformation.
AI’s Impact on Jobs and Sustainability
While AI’s potential disruption to jobs is a common concern, PM Modi reassured that, historically, technology has always transformed the nature of work rather than eliminating it. He advocated for investing in skilling and re-skilling initiatives to prepare the workforce for an AI-driven future. Additionally, he stressed the importance of sustainable AI, focusing on efficient use of power and resources, likening the energy efficiency of AI to the human brain.
India’s AI Leadership and Global Collaboration
PM Modi highlighted India’s ongoing AI efforts, noting that the country is building its own Large Language Model to accommodate its diverse population. India’s unique public-private partnership model facilitates affordable access to computing resources for startups and researchers. Modi expressed India’s commitment to sharing its expertise to shape a future where AI benefits all.
The Future of AI: Human Responsibility
Concluding his address, PM Modi reminded the summit that, despite AI’s growing capabilities, humans hold the key to guiding its future. As we enter the AI age, the sense of responsibility in shaping its course should rest firmly with humanity.
The full text of Modi’s speech:
Excellencies,
Friends,
Let me begin with a simple experiment.
If you upload your medical report to an AI app, it can explain in simple language, free of any jargon, what it means for your health. But, if you ask the same app to draw an image of someone writing with their Left hand, the app will most likely draw someone writing with their Right hand. Because that is what the training data is dominated by.
It shows that while the positive potential of AI is absolutely amazing, there are many biases that we need to think carefully about. That is why I am grateful to my friend, President Macron, for hosting this summit. And for inviting me to co-chair it.
Friends,
AI is already re-shaping our polity, our economy, our security and even our society. AI is writing the code for humanity in this century. But, it is very different from other technology milestones in human history.
AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed. And being adopted and deployed even faster. There is also a deep inter-dependence across borders. Therefore, there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards, that uphold our shared values, address risks, and build trust.
But, Governance is not just about managing risks and rivalries. It is also about promoting innovation, and deploying it for the global good. So, we must think deeply and discuss openly about innovation and governance.
Governance is also about ensuring access to all, especially in the Global South. It is where the capacities are most lacking – be it compute power, talent, data, or the financial resources.
Friends,
AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture and so much more. It can help create a world in which the journey to Sustainable Development Goals becomes easier and faster.
To do this, we must pool together resources and talent. We must develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency. We must build quality data sets, free from biases. We must democratise technology and create people-centric applications. We must address concerns related to cyber security, disinformation, and deep fakes. And, we must also ensure that technology is rooted in local ecosystems for it to be effective and useful.
Friends,
Loss of jobs is AI’s most feared disruption. But, history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology. Its nature changes and new types of jobs are created. We need to invest in skilling and re-skilling our people for an AI-driven future.
Friends,
There is no doubt that the high energy intensity of AI needs to be looked into. This will require green power to fuel its future.
At the same time, Sustainable AI does not only mean using clean energy. AI models must also be efficient and sustainable in size, data needs and resource requirements. After all, the human brain manages to compose poetry and design space ships using less power than most lightbulbs.
Friends,
We are developing AI applications for public good. We have one of the world’s largest AI talent pools. India is building its own Large Language Model considering our diversity. We also have a unique public-private partnership model for pooling resources like compute power. It is made available to our start-ups and researchers at an affordable cost. And, India is ready to share its experience and expertise to ensure that the AI future is for Good, and for All.
Friends,
We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity. Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But, no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans.
That sense of responsibility must guide us.
Thank you.
Paris February 11, 2025
