Global South Takes Center Stage at Paris AI Action Summit 2025

At the Paris AI Action Summit 2025, Prime Minister Modi emphasized open datasets, steering discussions at Ecole Normale Superieure. The CPRG-AI4India panel highlighted AI's role in public welfare, underscoring equitable data governance for the Global South, as India bolstered global collaborations for sustainable AI advancements.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant impact at the Paris AI Action Summit 2025, advocating for open and unbiased datasets. His call set the agenda for engaging discussions at France's Ecole Normale Superieure, focusing on AI's potential for enhancing public welfare and driving sustainable global partnerships.

Abhishek Singh, an Additional Secretary at the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, was pivotal in steering discussions centered on data development in the Global South. Singh underscored the importance of the region taking control of its data assets and fostering equitable global collaborations. He highlighted India's leadership in the lead-up to the Paris Summit, calling on Indian AI experts to rise to the challenge of creating next-generation AI-powered Digital Public Goods.

Shashi Shekhar Vempati and Alok Agarwal, AI4India's co-founders, stressed the criticality of data accessibility and governance in the Global South. Vempati described data as essential to AI innovation, while Agarwal highlighted AI's potential for job creation, echoing Modi's focus on opportunities over risks. The session, featuring diverse stakeholders from various regions, also introduced concepts like ethical data-sharing and cross-border collaboration, with experts calling for AI ecosystems that adapt to varying socio-economic contexts.