France to Host Pioneering AI Action Summit 2025: Addressing Public Interest, Future of Work, and Global AI Governance
On February 10–11, 2025, France will host the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the iconic Grand Palais. This event will convene a diverse group of global leaders, including Heads of State and Government, CEOs of companies large and small, representatives from academia, non-governmental organisations, and civil society, to shape the future of AI development and deployment.
AI for Public Good
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries and societies, but its unregulated trajectory raises critical concerns:
Widening inequality between AI developers and users.
Concentration of AI advancements among a select few private players, undermining diversity and national sovereignty.
Missed opportunities to address global challenges like cancer research due to fragmented public-interest AI initiatives and limited access to data.
France envisions a global platform to incubate AI solutions that prioritise the public good. This initiative seeks to create independent and open-access tools while ensuring sovereign use of AI technologies by all nations. The platform's foundation rests on collaboration with countries, businesses, and civil society to create shared resources, including datasets, open AI models, and mechanisms for inclusive citizen participation.
Since June 2024, over 200 stakeholders have been engaged in shaping this vision through continuous dialogue.
Revolutionising the Future of Work
AI is fundamentally reshaping labor markets, workplace dynamics, and organisational methods. The Summit’s Future of Work track aims to maximise the benefits of AI while mitigating risks, fostering tools that promote productivity, safety, and employee well-being.
"Artificial intelligence can become an incredible ally if we join forces to make it a factor of social and economic progress, reconciling productivity and wellbeing at work, to benefit all workers.” Sana de Courcelles, Summit Envoy for the Future of Work.
The rapid integration of AI within workplaces necessitates immediate action to track its effects and share best practices globally. A key objective of this track is to encourage socially responsible AI use through sustained social dialogue and measurable impact analysis. Efforts are already underway to establish a global network of observatories that connect government, private sector, and academic bodies to monitor AI's effects on labor.
The leaders at Future Tech Jobs emphasise “AI’s impact on work is not inevitable—it’s a result of choices we make now. We must prioritise policies that ensure AI uplifts workers and fosters equity.”
“Organisations that invest in workforce retraining will reap the greatest benefits from AI, both economically and socially.”
Gender equity and discrimination prevention remain critical aspects. The Summit will emphasise human resources strategies that prioritise inclusion, encourage upskilling, and adapt to evolving needs in AI-powered economies.
Innovation and Cultural Inclusion
Following the groundwork laid by previous AI summits in Bletchley Park and Seoul, the 2025 Summit will expand efforts to develop open technical standards, robust safety measures, and universally accessible AI solutions. The agenda includes tackling AI’s role in information integrity, combating misinformation, and fostering equitable business models that benefit smaller innovators.
France’s initiative aims to accelerate AI development while respecting intellectual property, promoting cultural diversity, and ensuring equitable access to technology across nations.
Toward a Unified Global AI Governance
Global governance of AI remains fragmented, with various regional frameworks and initiatives lacking coordination. This disjointed landscape often excludes smaller nations and creates challenges for private actors navigating multiple legal systems.
The Summit seeks to establish a cohesive, inclusive governance framework that integrates the efforts of existing initiatives like the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). By bringing together 70 partners—including governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society—France aims to build a multi-stakeholder consensus for managing AI’s global impact.
As AI becomes increasingly central to the global economy and society, the Summit represents a unique opportunity to shape its future collaboratively and responsibly.
