This week in Paris, the AI Action Summit convened influential leaders and tech executives to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit has stimulated discussions on international security, economic growth, and governance surrounding AI. Here are the key announcements made during the first day of the summit.
€150 Billion Investment for European AI Initiatives
A coalition of 20 major corporations, startups, and venture capitalists has committed to investing €150 billion in European AI over the next five years. Spearheaded by General Catalyst, this initiative aims to connect investors with startups to fully leverage Europe’s potential in AI development. The group will collaborate with the European Commission to streamline AI regulations, featuring discussions with top CEOs to accelerate the adoption of AI technologies.
As Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, Managing Director of General Catalyst, stated, "By seizing this moment, working with greater intention, and embracing deep collaboration, Europe can lead in applied AI..." This sentiment is echoed by over 60 partners in the initiative, including industry giants like Airbus, Volkswagen, and L’Oréal.
Current AI Initiative Launched
On the summit's opening day, Macron introduced Current AI, a public interest foundation backed by a $400 million (€387 million) investment from various sources including the French government. This foundation is designed to reshape the AI landscape by improving access to datasets, fostering open-source tools, and assessing AI’s social and environmental impacts.
According to Martin Tisné, founder of Current AI, "AI has the power to transform access to jobs, healthcare, and education for the better, but only if we act now." This initiative has garnered support from eleven European states, including France and Germany.
Initiatives for Online Safety
Another important announcement was the Robust Open Online Safety Tools (ROOST) initiative, which seeks to develop free, open-source safety tools for both private and public organizations. Supported by founders from tech leaders like Discord and DeepAI, this initiative aims to facilitate the reporting of online exploitation and create safer online environments.
Collaborations in Defence AI
A significant partnership was formed between French startup Mistral AI and European defence tech company Helsing. Their collaboration aims to leverage AI in defence platforms, enhancing communication with natural language processing and improving decision-making in critical scenarios. Gundbert Scherf, co-founder of Helsing, emphasized, "Europe needs to assert its strength as a geopolitical actor, and AI leadership is the key to that strength."
Macron's €109 Billion AI Investment for France
Prior to the summit, Macron announced a dedicated investment of €109 billion for France's AI sector. Drawing a parallel with the US's recent initiatives, Macron's investment is poised to propel France toward leading innovations in AI. Part of this funding will support a significant data centre campus project alongside the United Arab Emirates, estimated to range between €30 and €50 billion.
Furthermore, investment from Canadian firm Brookfield adds another €20 billion into the infrastructure needed to elevate AI capabilities in France.
Conclusion and Looking Ahead
The AI Action Summit has set the stage for substantial growth in the AI sector across Europe and beyond. As nations recognize the importance of AI in economic and social development, these initiatives promise to reshape the landscape of technology for years to come.
For more information on this topic, you can check the following resources:
- World's largest public-private partnership in AI - Euractiv
- France's public interest AI initiative - Philanthropy News Digest
- Macron's AI investment strategy - CNBC
- Leaders converge in Paris for AI summit - Yahoo News UK
Source: Euronews - Here's what has been announced at the AI Action Summit
#AIActionSummit #ArtificialIntelligence #InvestInAI #Macron #TechPartnerships #FutureOfTech
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