French President Emmanuel Macron said during a global AI summit in India on Thursday that he is determined to ensure safe oversight of this rapidly developing technology. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges the need to make this intelligent technology available to everyone, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned against leaving artificial intelligence at the “whims of a few billionaires.”

Published on: 02/19/2026 - 09:00 Last updated: 02/19/2026 - 12:05

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French President Emmanuel Macron explained during a global summit on artificial intelligence in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on Thursday, saying: “We are determined to continue formulating the rules... in cooperation with our allies such as India.”

He added, "Europe does not focus blindly on regulation. It is an incubating environment for innovation and investment, but it is a safe environment."

Macron added that France has “doubled the number of trained artificial intelligence scientists and engineers,” noting that new startups in this sector are providing “tens of thousands” of job opportunities.

Protecting children is a “priority” and a “civilisation”

"Protecting children from artificial intelligence and digital abuse will be one of our priorities in the G7," the French president said.

He added, "There is no justification for exposing our children on the Internet to what is legally prohibited in the real world."

He also stressed that France is “committed to this path” with many European countries, adding that he knows that India “will join this band.” He continued, "Protecting our children is not just legislation, but rather a civilization."

Macron began a three-day visit to India over the weekend, focusing on cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and a possible deal to sell fighter jets worth billions of dollars.

Read also: Macron announces an investment of 109 billion euros in artificial intelligence over the coming years

The European Union has previously led efforts to regulate this technology at the global level through the Artificial Intelligence Law, which was adopted in 2024 and will gradually enter into force.

"Over-organization"

For his part, US Vice President Jay DeVance, at the Artificial Intelligence Summit held last year in Paris, warned against “excessive regulation” that “could destroy a revolutionary sector.”

It is noteworthy that last month, French legislators approved a draft law prohibiting the use of social media for those under the age of fifteen, and it is awaiting a vote in the Senate before it becomes an effective law, following a similar ban imposed by Australia in December.

“Making AI accessible to everyone”

For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged during the summit the need to make artificial intelligence available to everyone.

“Artificial intelligence must be made available to everyone, so that humans do not become just data or raw material for it,” Modi said, speaking in Hindi. He added, "We must make artificial intelligence available to everyone, and make it a means of inclusion and empowerment, especially for countries of the Global South."

Modi also highlighted the recent launch of artificial intelligence models by Indian companies, saying that "the AI ​​model that works in India can be applied around the world."

"India believes that AI technology will only be useful if it is shared and its core systems are made open. Only then will millions of young minds be able to develop it and make it more secure," he added.

He continued, "We must commit to using artificial intelligence to achieve the global public good."

Modi then moved on to speak in English, saying, "We are entering an era in which humans and artificial intelligence systems cooperate to create, work and develop together."

"The whims of a few billionaires"

As for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, he warned the heads of technology companies about the dangers of artificial intelligence, saying that its future cannot be left hostage to “the whims of a few billionaires.”

In his speech during the summit, Guterres urged technology leaders to support a global fund worth $3 billion to ensure open access to this technology for all, saying: “Artificial intelligence must belong to everyone.”

"The future of artificial intelligence cannot be decided by a handful of countries, nor left to the whims of a few billionaires," he added, warning that if urgent action was not taken, it could exacerbate global inequality.

He emphasized that, "If used properly, artificial intelligence can accelerate medical progress, provide more learning opportunities, enhance food security, support climate action and disaster preparedness, and improve access to basic public services."

The Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit is the fourth annual international gathering concerned with this rapidly developing field.

France 24/AFP

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