French Digital Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot is set to make his second official visit to India, attending the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit on December 13, 2023. The visit also coincides with the European Union’s groundbreaking agreement on the AI Act, positioning the EU as the world’s first democracy with comprehensive AI regulations.

France, a co-founding member of GPAI, stresses international collaboration for the responsible development of AI aligned with human rights. Minister Barrot will spotlight GPAI’s crucial role in AI governance, addressing pressing topics like generative AI’s opportunities and challenges. The summit aims to reinforce GPAI’s functionality.

The momentum increased during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Paris on July 14, 2023, leading to the adoption of Roadmap 2047 and the renewal of the MoU on digital technology between India’s MeitY and France’s Ministry of Economy. Minister Barrot will interact with AI experts and counterparts from other participating countries during the summit.

Visiting the Unique Identification Authority of India, Minister Barrot will explore India’s digital public infrastructure and receive a demonstration on the Aadhaar scheme. Additionally, he will meet India’s innovation ecosystem representatives and French digital tech companies to enhance ties between the two countries’ tech landscapes. France, as Europe’s top tech hub, seeks to attract Indian tech talents and startups, offering accelerator programs, French Tech talent visas, and government support.

The French minister’s visit underscores the global significance of AI governance, leveraging the EU’s AI Act, and emphasizes the collaborative efforts of GPAI. The bilateral discussions aim to strengthen ties between France and India in the digital and technological domains, aligning with their shared vision for a technologically empowered and inclusive future.