Paris AI Summit: How Does India Stand To Benefit?

One big change at this year’s AI summit compared to the 2023 UK event is China’s rise with DeepSeek, a low-cost AI model that's challenging the US dominance in AI. 

Before this, US companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google led the charge, using top hardware and attracting the best talent. But DeepSeek, released by a Chinese lab, has surprised everyone.

It competes with US models on many fronts and was trained for just US$ 5.6 million, far less than OpenAI's models, despite limited access to top-tier hardware due to sanctions imposed by the US. Plus, DeepSeek is open-source, giving developers more flexibility, which could threaten OpenAI's edge.

The latest Chinese entrant has also highlighted another criticism of the Summit — that it is heavily influenced by US big tech, similar to past global events that have often favoured global corporate interests.

With DeepSeek signalling a possible shift in balance in favour of countries with less computing power, like India, the Summit is seen as a key moment to assess which way trends in AI will emerge.

Key figures like the recently sworn-in US Vice President J D Vance, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Microsoft’s Brad Smith and Google’s Sundar Pichai will be in attendance, signaling America’s strong presence. 

Meanwhile, China’s President Xi Jinping will send Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing as a representative, highlighting the stakes.

A draft of the Paris AI Action Summit statement has been leaked online. Its says that a Public Interest AI Platform will be launched during the Summit, discussed AI’s impact on jobs and energy, and stressing global cooperation on AI safety and transparency. Future events will continue these efforts.

Critics say that the statement is heavy on buzzwords but lacks concrete action, failing to address AI risks or build on past commitments. It is being floated that the statement’s focus on inclusivity and sustainability may also deter support from the US, thus weakening its impact.

While it proposes a Public Interest AI Platform, it overlooks urgent concerns like AGI risks.

What It Means For India

Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the Paris Summit recognises the importance of India. It  also gives India a better chance in shaping global AI policies and innovation. 

As India makes strides with its Rs 10,371-crore IndiaAI Mission, announcing a homegrown foundation AI model in the next 10 months, funding startups, home-made AI chip and building the necessary infrastructure with 18,000+ GPUs, Modi’s presence at the summit also highlights country's bid to attract investments.

DeepSeek’s success shows that building a solid AI model doesn’t need the most expensive hardware or resources, which is especially encouraging for countries like France, where another model, Mistral, has emerged.

For India, DeepSeek’s release was a wake-up call, highlighting the need for a clear strategy to build its own foundational AI model.

The Second India-France AI Policy Roundtable will be held as a side event at the Summit, organized by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), government advisers, Nasscom, and the IndiaAI Mission. The event will focus on global AI policy and ways India and France can work together.

India, currently, doesn't have an AI law, but recently released a report outlining India's approach to creating an AI ecosystem that's both regulatory and innovation-friendly.

Though the report indicates the IT Ministry's intent to regulate AI thoughtfully, critics say it lacks concrete plans and doesn't provide a clear way to balance innovation with rights protection.