NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday reaffirmed his commitment to shaping international rules for artificial intelligence in collaboration with allies, as he addressed a global AI summit in New Delhi.
Speaking at the AI Impact Summit, Macron said France and its European partners were determined to ensure effective and safe oversight of the rapidly evolving technology.
“We are determined to continue to shape the rules of the game… with our allies such as India,” Macron said, according to AFP.
The European Union has positioned itself at the forefront of global AI regulation with its landmark Artificial Intelligence Act, adopted in 2024 and set to come into force in phases.
Under the legislation, regulators can prohibit AI systems considered to pose “unacceptable risks” to society, including those capable of identifying individuals in real time through public surveillance cameras.
Macron emphasized that Europe’s regulatory framework does not come at the expense of innovation. “Europe is not blindly focused on regulation – Europe is a space for innovation and investment, but it is a safe space,” he said.
At last year’s AI summit in Paris, US Vice President JD Vance had cautioned against what he described as “excessive regulation” that “could kill a transformative sector,” highlighting transatlantic differences in approach to AI governance.
Macron said France was strengthening its domestic capabilities in the field, noting that the country is “doubling the number of AI scientists and engineers trained.”
He added that emerging startups in the AI sector were generating “dozens of thousands” of new jobs, underscoring the technology’s economic potential.
The French leader also highlighted child protection as a priority in the digital age. Last month, French lawmakers passed a bill that would ban social media use for children under 15.
The measure is awaiting approval in the Senate before becoming law, following a similar nationwide ban enacted by Australia in December.
“One of our G7 priorities will be, as well, children’s protection against AI and digital abuse,” Macron said.
“There is no reason our children should be exposed online to what is legally forbidden in the real world,” he added.
Macron said France was “committed here in this journey” alongside several European countries and expressed confidence that India would align with these efforts.
“Protecting our children is not regulation, as well. It is civilization,” he said.
The summit in New Delhi brought together global leaders, policymakers and technology executives to discuss both the opportunities and risks posed by artificial intelligence, amid growing international debate over how best to balance innovation, competitiveness and societal safeguards.
