New Delhi: India and France on Wednesday underlined their shared goal of building independent artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystems, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying the two nations do not want to be overly dependent on technology models developed by the United States or China.
Speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Macron said both countries share the “same obsession” of ensuring their own companies and institutions play a key role in shaping the global AI landscape.
“We do not want to be totally dependent on US and Chinese models. We want to be part of the solution, and we want our players to contribute as well,” he said.
Macron stressed that developing strong AI capabilities requires investment in three critical areas — computing infrastructure, skilled talent and financial capital. He highlighted the need to expand data centres, strengthen computing power and train a new generation of AI professionals.
Calling the India-hosted summit “extremely important,” the French President said continued global dialogue was necessary to ensure innovation benefits society and supports humanity’s broader interests.
While acknowledging that the United States and China currently lead the AI race, Macron said India and France remain strong contenders and can leverage AI to accelerate scientific progress, including breakthroughs in disease research and treatment.
He also emphasised the importance of ethical AI development, calling for safeguards to protect children, greater transparency in algorithms to address bias and democratic risks, and the preservation of linguistic diversity — an area where both countries share common priorities.
As part of the growing technology partnership, India and France jointly launched the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
The centre was inaugurated by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and President Macron. It aims to advance AI-based research, medical education and clinical innovation to address complex healthcare challenges.
The initiative has been established under a memorandum of understanding between AIIMS, Sorbonne University and the Paris Brain Institute, with academic collaboration from IIT Delhi and leading French research institutions. The partnership will focus on interdisciplinary work in artificial intelligence, brain health and digital healthcare systems.
The project also builds on existing India-France cooperation in areas such as digital health, antimicrobial resistance, healthcare workforce development and responsible use of health data.
