India-France AI Policy Roundtable on the Sidelines of Paris AI Summit 2025

India-France AI Policy Roundtable Explores Global AI Governance and Collaboration

As the Paris AI Summit 2025 sets the stage for global discussions on artificial intelligence, India and France have taken a significant step forward in AI policy collaboration. The 2nd India-France AI Policy Roundtable, held at Sciences Po Paris, brought together policymakers, industry experts, and academics to discuss global AI governance, responsible AI development, and strategic cooperation between the two nations. This high-profile event was an official side event to the AI Action Summit 2025, reinforcing the commitment of India and France to shaping a responsible and inclusive AI ecosystem.

Strengthening AI Governance: Key Priorities

The roundtable commenced with opening remarks from Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, who outlined India's strategic priorities in AI governance. He emphasized:

• Responsible AI development and equitable benefit-sharing

• Techno-legal frameworks for AI safety and innovation

• Interoperable data flows to enhance global cooperation

• Joint AI policy alignment between India and France to drive global advancements

Major Discussions and Collaborative Roadmap

Participants at the roundtable highlighted the necessity of democratized AI access, sovereign AI models, and ethical AI deployment. The dialogue focused on:

• Establishing globally accepted AI terminologies and standards

• Advancing multilingual Large Language Models (LLMs)

• Strengthening federated AI computing infrastructure

• Enabling interoperable AI research and datasets

Key collaborative areas between India and France included:

• Developing indigenous AI foundation models

• Balancing AI governance with innovation

• Sustainable AI and energy-efficient computing

• Cross-border cooperation in AI research, startups, and datasets

• Addressing AI’s societal impact and data governance

Building on the First Roundtable’s Milestones

The discussions expanded on insights gained from the First India-France AI Policy Roundtable, held at IISc Bengaluru on January 25, 2025, during Technology Dialogue 2025. That session had focused on inclusive AI frameworks, skills development, and public-private partnerships for AI governance. Both roundtables underscored the shared vision of India and France in advancing sector-specific AI policies and fostering ethical innovation.

Co-Chairs’ Closing Remarks

The roundtable concluded with remarks from Amit A. Shukla, Joint Secretary, Cyber Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Henri Verdier, Ambassador for Digital Affairs, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. They emphasized:

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for AI

• AI foundation models and governance frameworks

• AI’s role in addressing global challenges

Both officials acknowledged challenges in cross-border data flows and the lack of arbitration mechanisms, stressing the need for data sovereignty and aligned global perspectives.

As AI continues to revolutionize industries and governance models worldwide, the India-France AI Policy Roundtable reinforced the necessity of strategic partnerships, ethical AI innovation, and inclusive policies. With its integration into the Paris AI Summit 2025, this roundtable not only strengthens bilateral ties but also contributes to the broader global AI governance agenda.