Global leaders, tech giants gather in Paris for major AI summit

World leaders and executives of leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies gathered in Paris on Monday for a major two-day summit on the future of AI, which aims to assess the challenges and opportunities posed by the rapidly evolving technology.

Held at the historic Grand Palais in the French capital, the AI Action Summit is being attended by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and has drawn representatives from nearly 100 countries and regions and more than 1,000 stakeholders from the private sector and civil society.

The summit is focusing on harnessing innovation and creativity as well as on the more complex issues surrounding the safety and regulation of AI. The opening day featured sub-forums detailing how the fast-expanding tech can be used in the public interest and ensuring it respects cultural diversity, and also saw discussions centered around global AI governance.

The European Union approved draft laws governing AI last year, but the proposals have met resistance from some tech firms, with Sam Altman, CEO of leading U.S. research firm OpenAI, warning that innovation in the industry could be stifled.

In hosting this major AI summit, France is hoping to position itself as a leading light in the future development of AI, with President Emmanuel Macron promising over 110 billion U.S. dollars' worth of private investment in the French AI sector.

One of Macron's former advisers said more work can be done to ensure AI development is accelerated across Europe.

"What we want to show here is that we also have a vibrant ecosystem with Paris growing as the capital of continental Europe when it comes to AI innovation. We have the political willingness to invest in AI. Today, as you might have noticed, President Macron announced 109 billion euros of investment in AI infrastructure in France alone. And that can be scaled up at the European level. We have the minds, we have an environment that's also prone to innovation and we want to showcase that to the world. We need to do more efforts, we need to accelerate in a world that also accelerates, and we need to give good reasons for AI stakeholders who are here today to choose Europe," said tech expert Alexandre Mirlesse, who also serves as a special adviser on AI at the Paris Peace Forum.

While the expansion of AI around the world is seeing new jobs being created in digital industries, there are worries about the impact of traditional roles being lost across multiple sectors.

Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for this potentially life-altering transition to be effectively managed.

"I am obviously worried about the potential of those workers that are going to be losing - that are, in fact, already starting to lose their jobs - so it's important, the whole transition management," he said.

Global leaders, tech giants gather in Paris for major AI summit

Global leaders, tech giants gather in Paris for major AI summit

Global leaders, tech giants gather in Paris for major AI summit

Global leaders, tech giants gather in Paris for major AI summit

The European Union（EU）and France have reaffirmed their support for Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland as concerns are growing over security in the Arctic following the recent statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the strategically important island.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that "Greenland belongs to its people, so it's up to Denmark and Greenland, and only to them, to decide on matters that are concerning Denmark and Greenland."

Noting that the EU is in contact with the Danish government, Von der Leyen stressed that security in the Arctic region is a key issue of concern to the EU.

Also on Wednesday, the European Parliament's political group leaders issued a statement, condemning the remarks made by the Trump administration regarding Greenland and terming them as a "blatant" challenge to international law and to the sovereignty of NATO member Denmark.

They urged the EU institutions to define "concrete and tangible" support for Denmark and Greenland, and stressed that decisions concerning Greenland belong to Denmark and Greenland alone.

"External attempts to alter the status quo are unacceptable," the leaders said.

In a related development, a group of 23 lawmakers sent a letter to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Wednesday, emphasizing that if the United States continues to threaten Denmark's autonomous territory, the European Parliament should suspend debates and votes on trade agreements with the United States.

Currently, the European Parliament is deliberating on removing most U.S. import tariffs and maintaining zero-tariff policies on U.S. lobster, with a vote scheduled for January 26 and 27.

Meanwhile, French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon, citing President Emmanuel Macron, warned on Wednesday that any infringement on Danish sovereignty over Greenland would trigger "unprecedented" consequences.

"If the sovereignty of a European ally were affected, the cascading consequences would be unprecedented," said Bregeon.

"we are closely monitoring the situation and will stand firmly with Denmark to defend its sovereignty," the spokeswoman said.

On the same day, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu noted the need for serious consideration of recent U.S. signals concerning Greenland.

Lecornu reaffirmed France's "full solidarity with Denmark and the legitimate authorities of Greenland," adding that safeguarding the sovereignty of other countries is an important foundation for safeguarding one's own sovereignty.

Furthermore, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Wednesday that France will open a consulate in Greenland on February 6, calling the move a "political signal" over the strategic Danish territory.

The foreign minister said that the U.S. plan of buying Greenland is "absurd" and that this "blackmail" should stop.

He reiterated that France and Europe will continue to support Denmark.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, while Denmark retains authority over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island.

Since his first term, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire Greenland. Both Greenland and Denmark have made clear that the island is not for sale. The White House said last week that Trump will not rule out the use of force.

EU, France reaffirm support for Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland