Focus on AI, ties as PM begins France, US trip

A collaborative approach to the inclusive use of AI and strengthening the India-US partnership will be in focus during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-nation visit to France and the US that began on Monday.

- Rezaul H Laskar

Modi has arrived in France, where he will co-chair the AI Action Summit along with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday.

The two leaders will hold bilateral talks before Modi travels to Washington on February 12 for his first meeting with US President Donald Trump in his second term.

In a statement ahead of his departure, Modi said he looked forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit, where "we will exchange views on collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner".

The summit in Paris, the third of its kind, will be attended by world leaders such as US vice president JD Vance and Chinese vice premier Zhang Guoqing and global tech CEOs such as OpenAI's Sam Altman and Google's Sundar Pichai. Besides the launch of an AI Foundation, the summit is expected to focus on collaboration to ensure the safe and trustworthy use of AI.

Following the AI Summit, Modi and Macron will travel to the port city of Marseille, where they will hold bilateral talks and inaugurate a new Indian consulate on February 12.