India, France back AI as a tool for common good

India and France on Wednesday launched a joint road map for developing safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron explored ways to ramp up cooperation in science and innovation under the bilateral strategic partnership.

- 

The two countries also unveiled a partnership on advanced modular reactors (AMRS) and small modular reactors (SMRs), a civil nuclear energy sector that has been in focus as nations try to meet the needs of energy-guzzling AI data centres, and other steps to bolster civil nuclear cooperation.

The India-France road map on AI will focus on the "development of safe, open, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence", according to a joint statement. The India-France Declaration on Artificial Intelligence, one of the key outcomes of the Modi-Macron meeting, said the two countries will focus on AI norms and standards that "reflect democratic values, and harness the technology for common good".

Modi and Macron held talks on Tuesday evening while flying in the French presidential aircraft to Marseille from Paris, where they co-chaired the AI Action Summit. The leaders continued their discussions over a dinner hosted by Macron in the port city in southern France. Besides reviewing progress in key sectors such as defence, space and civil nuclear cooperation, the leaders focused on cooperation in new fields such as AI and innovation.

With India preparing to host the next AI Summit this year and the two countries set to observe 2026 as the Year of Innovation, the bilateral strategic partnership is entering a new era focused on innovation, science and technology, foreign secretary Vikram Misri told a media briefing in Marseille.

The bilateral steps outlined by India and France build on their approach at Wednesday's AI Summit, where Modi and Macron backed global efforts to create governance and standards for AI, as well as fair and open access with focus on quality data.