New Delhi, February 18 – Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met France’s Special Envoy for Artificial Intelligence, Anne Bouverot, on Wednesday on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, and discussed expanding collaboration in emerging technologies and research.
In a post on X, Pradhan said he was pleased to meet the French Special Envoy for Artificial Intelligence during the summit in the national capital.
“Glad to meet Ms. Anne Bouverot, Special Envoy for Artificial Intelligence, Government of France, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Productive discussions on deepening Indo-French engagements in AI. We also explored opportunities for more collaborations in research, innovation, science, and emerging technologies,” he posted.
The minister emphasised that human-centric, responsible, open, and inclusive AI frameworks would be key drivers of global growth and prosperity. He noted that both India and France remain committed to developing safe, secure, ethical, and trustworthy artificial intelligence to advance development and promote global good.
Pradhan emphasised that knowledge continues to serve as the strongest bridge between India and France, expressing confidence that the high-level academic and scientific engagements would further energize bilateral cooperation in education, research, and innovation.
He called for meaningful collaborations to democratize artificial intelligence and advance cutting-edge research for long-term prosperity, sustainable development, and global peace and stability.
The five-day India AI summit has drawn participation from over 110 countries and 30 international organizations, including about 20 heads of state or government and nearly 45 ministers.
It aims to align AI initiatives with India’s national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya (welfare for all, happiness for all)" and the global principle of AI for Humanity.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is the fourth in its series, following earlier editions in the United Kingdom (Bletchley Park, 2023), South Korea (2024), and France (2025). The summit provides a global platform for leaders to deliberate on AI’s ethical, economic, and social impacts while strengthening partnerships across digital technology, culture, tourism, and maritime cooperation.