Modi France visit highlights: PM Modi to meet Elon Musk during US visit, says report

The Indian diaspora in Paris cheer for Prime Minister Narendra Modi after welcoming him at a hotel there, saying in Gujarati, ""Modi amaru maan che, enu abhimaan che. Modi amari shaan che." (PM Modi is our pride)

On his three-day visit to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with French president Emmanuel Macron.

He will also address business leaders who are present in Paris for the AI Action Summit.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar met his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris and discussed wide-ranging cooperation between both countries with a focus on artificial intelligence, innovation and also on regional and global developments.

"A pleasure meeting FM @jnbarrot in Paris this evening. Discussed our wide-ranging cooperation with a focus on AI & innovation, connectivity and clean energy. Also spoke about regional and global developments," Jaishankar posted on X on Monday.

In a post on X, French president Emmanuel Macron welcomed his "friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also extended greetings to US vice president JD Vance.

"Welcome to all our partners for the AI Action Summit," Macron said while sharing a video of their interaction.

At the AI Action Summit in France, president Emmanuel Macron said that artificial intelligence firms "have to choose Europe and France" for developing AI.

Closing the first day of the summit, President Macron used his role as host to steal the show, with a passionate pitch for France as a rival to not only the UK, but also the US, when it came to AI development and infrastructure.

In a pitch to big US firms such as Google and OpenAI – both of which are at the summit – Mr Macron said France would “work together” with others “whatever the geopolitics will be”, adding France and the EU would introduce “smart regulation”. “It’s why you have to choose Europe and France for AI,” he said.

A collaborative approach to the inclusive use of AI and strengthening the India-US partnership will be in focus during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-nation visit to France and the US that began on Monday.

In a statement ahead of his departure, Modi said he looked forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit, where “we will exchange views on collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner”.

The summit in Paris, the third of its kind, will be attended by world leaders such as US vice president JD Vance and Chinese vice premier Zhang Guoqing and global tech CEOs such as OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google’s Sundar Pichai.

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PM Modi in France Live: PM Narendr Modi attend a dinner at the Elysee Palace, the French president's residence.

PM Modi in France Live: In a statement ahead of his departure, PM Narendra Modi said he looked forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit, where “we will exchange views on collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner”.

The summit in Paris, the third of its kind, will be attended by world leaders such as US vice president JD Vance and Chinese vice premier Zhang Guoqing and global tech CEOs such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Besides the launch of an AI Foundation, the summit is expected to focus on collaboration to ensure the safe and trustworthy use of AI.

PM Modi in France Live: In a video interview with French news network France24 in Paris, President Macron discussed AI and its global impact, India-France relations, and his views on the US.

Macron also emphasised India's strengths in technology and education, according to a statement.

“India is a training superpower -- one million engineers a year, more than the US and Europe combined,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

“We have shared interest focused on friendship,” the French president said.

In response to a query, he said, “We want to train our talent so that they can go abroad, but they should also be at home.”

At the start of the interview, Macron greeted the people of India in Hindi, saying, “Bharat ke logon ko mera namaste,” (Namaste, people of India) and concluded with “Bahut shukriya” (many thanks).

PM Modi in France Live: PM Modi interacts with Emmanuel Macron, US vice president JD Vance.

PM Modi in France Live: “Delighted to meet my friend, President Macron in Paris,” tweets prime minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi in France Live | AMAZON: The US retail giant pledged more than 1.2 billion euros at last May's Choose France summit, part of a 6 billion euro investment to develop cloud infrastructure in France by 2031.

APOLLO: Alternative asset manager Apollo Global Management has put up an initial tranche of funding for AI energy-related investments totalling $5 billion.

DIGITAL REALTY: Digital Realty, a real estate investment trust which leases out managed data centres, plans to deepen investments in data centres around Paris, and in Marseille, with a total pledge that could reach 6 billions euros.

EQUINIX: Data centre firm Equinix plans to invest 630 million euros as part of a 750 million euro pledge that will lead to 10 data centres around Paris and one in Bordeaux.

FLUIDSTACK: The AI cloud platform firm has signed a memorandum of understanding with the French government to build one of the world's biggest AI supercomputers, powered by French nuclear energy. An initial phase would see 10 billion euros invested, with the project operational by 2026, the company says.

MISTRAL: Nvidia-backed French startup Mistral AI, whose recently launched Le Chat assistant is touted as Eurpoe's response to OpenAI's popular ChatGPT, plans to launch the largest supercomputer in Europe, while also deepening partnerships with French companies including Veolia and software developer Dassault Systemes. (Reuters)

PM Modi in France Live: AI Summit co-chair, French president Emmanuel Macron, has announced investment pledges to bolster France's artificial intelligence sector totalling 109 billion euros ($112 billion)over the coming years.

The financing, unveiled during the Paris AI summit, includes plans by Canadian investment firm Brookfield to invest 20 billion euros in AI projects in France and financing from the United Arab Emirates which could hit 50 billion euros in the years ahead.

PM Modi in France Live: President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said France would slash through red tape to build artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, aiming to keep Europe in the running for the technology's hoped-for benefits at a global summit in Paris.

Co-hosted with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Paris summit aims to lay the groundwork for governing the nascent sector, as global powers race to play leading roles in the fast-developing technology.

On AI projects, "we will adopt the Notre Dame de Paris strategy" that saw France rebuild the landmark cathedral within five years of its devastation in a 2019 fire, Macron told attendees including tech industry bosses and political leaders.

"We showed the rest of the of the world that when we commit to a clear timeline we can deliver," he said in remarks delivered entirely in English at the opulent Grand Palais in the French capital.

"You decide, you streamline all the procedures, somebody is in charge," he added, saying the scheme would apply to data centres, authorisations to bring AI products to market and business "attractiveness". (AFP)

PM Modi in France Live: JD Vance stepped onto the world stage this week for the first time as US vice president, using a high-stakes AI summit in Paris and a security conference in Munich to amplify Donald Trump’s aggressive new approach to diplomacy.

The AI summit has drawn world leaders, top tech executives, and policymakers to discuss artificial intelligence’s impact on global security, economics, and governance. High-profile attendees include Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, signaling Beijing’s deep interest in shaping global AI standards. (AP)

PM Modi in France Live: India has proposed to host the next global artificial intelligence summit, and an announcement to that effect could be made on Tuesday at the Paris AI Action Summit, which prime minister Narendra Modi will co-chair with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, people familiar with the matter on the condition of anonymity said on Monday.

If announced, it would make India only the fourth country in the world to host a global summit focussed on AI safety after the United Kingdom, South Korea and France.

PM Modi in France Live: In a separate tweet after reaching Paris, PM Modi said he is ‘Looking forward to the various programmes here, which will focus on futuristic sectors like AI, tech and innovation’.

PM Modi in France Live: “A memorable welcome in Paris! The cold weather didn’t deter the Indian community from showing their affection this evening. Grateful to our diaspora and proud of them for their accomplishments!,” twets PM Narendra Modi.

PM Modi in France Live: “PM @narendramodi arrived in Paris to a special welcome. Warmly received by Minister of the Armed Forces @SebLecornu of France at the airport,” tweets Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson.

PM Modi in France Live: After welcoming PM Modi at a hotel in Paris, a member of the indian community, says, "It is such a good moment that PM Modi has come here for the AI summit. With every visit of PM Modi, we achieve a lot. This time a new consulate will be opening. We have one request if there can be a cultural centre here." (ANI)