By Audrey Hingle. Originally published in a shorter version in Mallory Knodel’s newsletter, The Internet Exchange and adapted for this format.

On February 10-11, France will host the Paris AI Action Summit, the next step in global AI coordination following the UK’s 2023 Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit and the Seoul AI Summit in May 2024. 

While previous summits emphasized AI safety, the Paris AI Action Summit aims to broaden discussions to include governance, democracy, defense, and the economy. Here’s what to watch for:

1. A Shift from Risk to Governance

The Bletchley Park Summit, hosted by the UK government in 2023 centered on long-term AI risks which led to voluntary safety commitments from major AI companies. The Seoul summit focused on near-term AI risks, regulation, and cooperation, leading to the Seoul Declaration, more voluntary safety commitments, and a global AI safety research network. France is broadening the scope to include AI’s impact on democracy, defense, and the economy. More on the official website.

2. India’s Role as Co-Chair

At France’s request, India will co-chair the event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to advocate for global AI governance frameworks with an emphasis on accessibility and ethical AI development, particularly for the Global South. India is home to a rapidly expanding AI industry, with major investments in AI-driven healthcare, finance, and government services. 

Earlier this week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with India's IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, to discuss India's strategy for developing a comprehensive and affordable AI ecosystem. Altman expressed OpenAI’s willingness to collaborate and highlighted India’s rapid adoption of AI technologies—the country's user base for OpenAI products has tripled in the past year, making India its second-largest market. As India navigates its role between Western AI regulatory approaches and the priorities of developing nations, it is emerging as a bridge in global AI governance.

Beyond AI, Modi’s visit will also focus on strengthening India-France relations, with discussions expected to finalize significant defense agreements, enhance cooperation in high-technology sectors and address civil nuclear issues. Read about India’s role at the summit and Modi’s AI agenda.

3. A High-Profile Guest List

The summit will bring together nearly 1,000 key figures, including tech leaders from Alphabet, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, as well as heads of state and government officials shaping AI policy in leading nations. It will also feature think tanks, campaign groups, and research institutes focused on AI governance, alongside artists and cultural figures, reflecting AI’s growing influence on creativity and media. Learn more.

4. Focus on Open-Source AI & Clean Energy

One of the most anticipated discussions at the summit will be France’s push for open-source AI and sustainable computing. Unlike companies such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind, which keep their most advanced models proprietary, France has been actively supporting open-source AI development. Additionally, France is expected to advocate for sustainable AI infrastructure, including energy-efficient AI models that require less compute power, regulations on AI’s environmental impact, and development of green data centers to reduce AI’s carbon footprint. More on this.

5. Fringe Events in London & Paris

Alongside the main summit, independent organizations are hosting a two-day event at the British Library in London and partner-led discussions in Paris on AI policy, ethics, and open-source development. The event will explore key themes and outcomes from the Summit, focusing on their impact on policymakers, businesses, and citizens. It will also revisit AI ecosystem challenges in the UK, building on insights from previous AI Fringe events. Find details.