Tech Leaders Grapple with AI Challenges at Paris Summit

AFP/APP

Paris: Political and tech industry leaders convened in Paris on Monday for a two-day summit on artificial intelligence, aiming to find common ground on regulating the rapidly evolving technology that is set to transform business and society worldwide.

Co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit seeks to establish a framework for AI governance as global powers compete for leadership in this critical sector.

The gathering, held at the Grand Palais in Paris, brings together around 1,500 guests, including political leaders, AI experts, and industry pioneers. US Vice President JD Vance and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing are expected to engage with tech giants such as OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google’s Sundar Pichai.

Under the glass-and-steel dome of the historic venue—originally built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition—attendees are engaging in lectures and panel discussions on the promises and challenges of AI.

Selected companies, academics, and nonprofit organizations are showcasing AI innovations at interactive stands set up around the space, which features large screens and geodesic domes.

Two years after OpenAI’s ChatGPT sparked widespread interest in generative AI, discussions at the summit reflect both optimism and caution.

“Artificial intelligence fuels immense hopes and, at times, exaggerated fears,” said Anne Bouverot, Macron’s AI envoy, as she opened the event. She emphasized the need for broader international participation in AI development, which has so far been concentrated in a few advanced economies.

A key focus of the summit is the sustainable development of AI, a technology that demands vast computational resources and energy. “We know that AI can help mitigate climate change, but we also recognize that its current trajectory is unsustainable,” Bouverot stated, underscoring the need for responsible AI practices.

The summit is expected to serve as a turning point in global AI governance, fostering international cooperation to ensure AI’s ethical and sustainable growth.