AI summit in Paris focuses on ethics & sustainability

As the Paris Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit unfolds at the prestigious Grand Palais, leaders and experts from various sectors gather to discuss the transformative potential and challenges posed by AI. The summit highlights critical themes like responsible AI, public interest, sustainability, and trust, emphasising the need for comprehensive governance in AI's deployment.

Cezary Skarżyński, Startup Program Lead UK at OVHcloud, commented on the event's focus areas, which are crucial for ensuring AI technology acts as a force for good. Skarżyński pointed to three of the summit's significant themes—responsible AI, trust, and public interest—as foundations for ethical AI deployment. There is a pressing need to examine AI's basic functionality, ensuring fairness and lack of bias in algorithms. Skarżyński further highlighted the necessity of transparency in data usage, accentuating the importance of tracing the origins of data used to train large language models (LLMs) to confirm ethical compliance.

AI's significant energy demands also feature prominently in discussions about sustainability. Skarżyński noted the environmental implications, stressing the need for sustainable cloud environments and power-efficient hardware and code. He argued that these considerations are vital for developing AI systems that are both ethical and sustainable. "The world has seen AI's great power. Now we need to demonstrate our great responsibility," he asserted.

In parallel, the German music rights organisation GEMA, represented by its CEO Dr. Tobias Holzmueller, is actively engaging in the summit's discourse on generative AI and intellectual property issues. Holzmueller emphasised the role of generative AI in complementing, rather than replacing, human creativity. He underscored the necessity for an international framework that facilitates the technology's potential while ensuring creators receive fair compensation through equitable licensing solutions.

This call for an international framework aligns with GEMA's ongoing efforts to protect intellectual property rights amidst AI advancements. The organisation recently initiated legal actions against AI firms like Suno AI and OpenAI for alleged copyright infringements. These cases reflect GEMA's commitment to safeguarding the interests of creators in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

As part of its contributions, GEMA has established principles for AI use, focusing on transparency and accountability. Holzmueller stated, "Generative AI is a fascinating technology, but we must ensure that it supports human creativity, and does not replace it. Human creativity is the foundation of any generative AI." He advocates for market transparency and a licensing framework that ensures a fair return for creators.

The AI Summit, gathering participants from governments, international organisations, academia, and civil societies, provides a platform for these critical discussions. Attendees aim not only to understand the transformative capabilities of AI but also to address the responsibilities that come with its implementation. Leaders underscore the balance between innovation and ethical practice, fostering a dialogue that could shape future international policies on AI usage and governance.

As the summit progresses, stakeholders continue to examine ways to harness AI technologies responsibly while mitigating potential risks. The engagement of both private enterprises and public institutions signifies a collective effort to steer AI development towards a balanced intersection of technological advancement and ethical responsibility.