Journalists work during the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, at the Grand Palais, in Paris, France, on Feb. 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

France hosted the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit recently in a bid to establish a global artificial intelligence (AI) governance framework that is both inclusive and efficient.

The two-day summit, which concluded on Tuesday, focused on five key themes: Public Interest AI, Future of Work, Innovation and Culture, Trust in AI, and Global AI Governance. Participants agreed that, as AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, there is an urgent need to find a solution that balances AI governance with its development.

International efforts for global AI governance

Lv Linhua, from the Faculty of Law at the University of Strasbourg, emphasized the need for win-win cooperation in the AI industry, despite the intense competition currently prevailing.

According to Lv, the industry and academia must improve communication, as they are not yet collaborating effectively on governance issues.

"We need to strengthen bilateral dialogues on key issues to enhance understanding, build consensus, and foster cooperation," she said. "For instance, how to design mechanisms that encourage companies to invest in innovation and introduce legal policies to guide healthy technological development are crucial topics."

Jano Costard, head of the Challenges at Germany's Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIN-D), stressed the importance of ensuring AI development benefits people worldwide, regardless of location. "It's essential to bring together people from various regions and industries, including those from startups and government, to make sure AI is developed for the benefit of all," he said.

Xie Minxi, executive director of Anyuan AI, a Chinese consulting organization specializing in AI security and governance, highlighted China's leading role in regulating deepfakes, algorithm recommendations, and generative AI. He noted that the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Office is developing a code of conduct for general AI, similar to China's regulatory approach in some aspects. "This reflects the need for exchanges and mutual learning," Xie stated.

Developing open and inclusive AI

Many participants at the AI Action Summit agreed that China's open-source AI models play a significant role in advancing open and inclusive AI development.

Xie Minxi pointed out that, unlike some American companies' closed-source practices, Chinese companies such as Alibaba are more willing to embrace publicly accessible AI models. "This not only facilitates external oversight but also allows regions and industries to tailor AI according to local needs," he said.

However, Xie warned that open-source models present challenges, particularly in balancing openness with security, which remains a global concern.

During a roundtable at the summit, Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini, praised China's DeepSeek AI for its openness and energy efficiency. "DeepSeek's lightweight models achieve the same results while using less energy, which is a great step forward," he said, also noting that open-source models enhance transparency.

Development and regulation

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated the need for global AI regulations to ensure AI security. "We need these rules for AI to move forward," Macron emphasized during the summit.

At the summit's conclusion, around 60 countries, including China, signed a Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet. The statement affirmed that the summit's approach would enable AI to be human rights-based, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.

However, the United States declined to sign the statement, arguing that excessive regulation could stifle a transformative sector just as it is beginning to flourish.

Remi Bourgeot, associate research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS), noted that expectations for global coordination on AI regulation should be tempered. Currently, global powers are focused more on the technological race than on regulatory frameworks. "Most governments are facing similar challenges with the risks posed by powerful AI models, so coordination will likely take place once AI reaches a more mature phase," he said.

Shen Weixing, dean of the Institute for Studies on Artificial Intelligence and Law at Tsinghua University, emphasized that AI development and AI security are complementary, not contradictory. "The reason we emphasize safety is to create a better environment for development," he said.