At the 50th G7 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the necessity of a collective global effort to tackle pressing global issues through human-centric artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable environmental practices. Addressing the Outreach Session on Artificial Intelligence and Energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean, Modi highlighted the importance of these initiatives for the future well-being and progress of humanity.
Modi expressed his satisfaction in attending the Summit following his re-election in what he described as the largest democratic exercise in history. He emphasized the need for technology, particularly AI, to be successful through a human-centric approach. India, he noted, has been a pioneer in this area, being among the first nations to develop a national strategy for AI, which led to the launch of the AI Mission earlier this year.
“During the G20 Summit hosted by India last year, we emphasized the importance of international governance in AI”, Modi said. “We will continue to work together with all countries to ensure AI is transparent, fair, secure, accessible, and responsible”.
The Prime Minister discussed India’s ‘AI for All’ mission, which aims to leverage AI to foster progress and well-being globally. He highlighted India’s role as a founding member of the Global Partnership for AI, fostering international collaboration in this field.
On the topic of energy transition, Modi outlined India’s strategy, focusing on availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability of energy sources. He reiterated India’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070 and introduced India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). Modi called on the global community to participate in the ‘Plant4Mother’ tree plantation campaign launched on World Environment Day, promoting it as a mass movement with a personal touch and global responsibility.
Addressing concerns of the Global South, particularly Africa, Modi emphasized India’s role in highlighting the priorities and issues faced by these regions on the global stage. He expressed pride in India’s presidency of the G20, under which the African Union (AU) was admitted as a permanent member.
“It is India’s responsibility to put the priorities and concerns of the Global South on the world stage",Modi said. “We have given high priority to Africa and are honored that under India's presidency, the G20 made the AU a permanent member”.
Modi assured that India would continue to contribute to the economic and social development, stability, and security of African nations. He stressed India’s ongoing commitment to supporting Africa’s growth and addressing its challenges.
French President Emmanuel Macron lauded PM Modi's initiatives on AI and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), reflecting international recognition of India’s strides in these domains.
Modi’s address at the G7 Summit showcased India’s leadership in AI and sustainable development, while calling for a unified global approach to address the world’s pressing challenges.