On February 10-11, Paris becomes the epicenter of the global AI conversation, with the third edition of the AI Action Summit. Co-chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this year's summit aims to ensure safe, accessible, and environmentally conscious AI, emphasizing the inclusion of the Global South. The summit's themes include trust in AI, public service applications, innovation, and global AI governance.

A key highlight is the growing influence of China's low-cost foundational model, DeepSeek. Released as an open-source model, DeepSeek challenges the dominance of US AI giants like OpenAI and Google. Trained on limited resources, its efficiency and accessibility have inspired countries to explore AI innovation without relying on top-tier hardware. DeepSeek's rise symbolizes a shift, empowering nations to develop competitive AI solutions at a fraction of traditional costs.

India, meanwhile, is taking significant strides in its AI journey. As part of the IndiaAI Mission, the government has procured over 18,000 GPUs and announced plans to develop indigenous large language models (LLMs). IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has underscored the importance of building “world-class” AI systems tailored to India's unique challenges and opportunities, with mechanisms to ensure fairness, transparency, and ethical standards.

This year's summit also features the Second India-France AI Policy Roundtable, highlighting Indo-French collaboration in shaping global AI policies. As nations navigate AI's promise and perils, India's proactive steps reflect its ambition to balance innovation with ethical governance.

The Summit further sparks global discourse on regulation. While the EU pursues stringent AI classifications, the UK fosters innovation with a light-touch approach. India's stance centers on trust and safety, ensuring AI addresses critical societal needs without becoming a tool of misuse.

With global AI competition heating up, the Paris Summit underscores the importance of collaboration, innovation, and responsible governance in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.