TECH7's key recommendations for the Paris AI Action Summit

On the occasion of the AI Action Summit, an international gathering convened by France to address the opportunities and risks presented by AI, the TECH7 – representing the leading technology trade associations from the G7 – presents this declaration.

The AI Action Summit represents a crucial moment in global technological cooperation, bringing together policymakers, technology leaders, and experts from around the world to chart a collective course for action to drive the responsible development and adoption of AI. As the digital technology associations of the G7, we are fully mobilised and deeply committed to making this summit a crucial moment for AI. Through our concrete recommendations, we aim to actively contribute, shape discussions, and ensure that AI innovation and adoption are both responsible and globally transformative as these technologies continue to scale.

Our annual gatherings have consistently provided strategic recommendations to the G7, uniting diverse national perspectives into a global strategy. We extend our gratitude to the Italian presidencies of the G7 and TECH7 for their remarkable work in laying the groundwork for these critical discussions. Building on this foundation, the Canadian presidency of the TECH71 (TECHNATION) will prioritise fostering innovation, ensuring ethical AI deployment, and advancing inclusive digital transformation. With these priorities in mind, we approach the AI Action Summit as a key moment to reaffirm our collective commitment to responsible, collaborative technological progress.

Under the Italian presidency, the TECH7 has made several public statements and delivered key recommendations2. With these efforts, we are actively contributing to the ongoing global debate on tech topics, and we are determined to bring our expertise and priorities to the forefront at the upcoming AI Action Summit.

• The TECH7 has emphasised the need to build an ecosystem that supports inclusive and responsible AI development. This includes creating globally interoperable standards and further technical guidance for a variety of areas, including datasets to enhance cross-border collaboration and enable the implementation of transnational AI projects to tackle global challenges.
• The TECH7 emphasise that SMEs often face significant barriers to AI adoption, including inadequate infrastructure and skills gaps. The G7 discusses the aforementioned TECH7 priorities in their report titled ‘G7 Report on driving factors and challenges of AI adoption and development among companies, especially MSMEs’ (released on October 10, 2024, in Rome), where they identified cloud computing as an enabler of AI adoption. We believe that one of the key outcomes of this Summit should be to focus on enabling SMEs to effectively use AI technologies and to improve their productivity. Targeted support for SMEs can empower them to actively contribute to AI development, fostering a more equitable and competitive ecosystem. This support must account for varying levels of AI maturity across countries and business sizes, to ensure all organisations, no matter the size or region, can effectively leverage AI.
• A key challenge faced by the G7 is the shortage of AI-skilled talent. We call for prioritising digital fluency and comprehensive workforce development through reskilling initiatives, professional training programs and specialised AI education. This requires strong partnerships between governments, educational institutions and private companies to create practical learning pathways and ensure curricula align with industry needs. These efforts should focus on both technical skills and the broader competencies needed to implement AI responsibly in the modern workplace.
• The security of critical infrastructure is essential not only for a resilient and competitive digital economy but also for national and collective defence. As AI becomes integral to critical sectors such as energy, telecommunications and defence, safeguarding these infrastructures against cyber and hybrid threats is essential.
• A harmonised approach that includes robust cybersecurity standards and public-private collaboration is crucial. Resilient critical infrastructure ensures operational continuity, supports innovation, and strengthens both societal safety and defence capabilities in an increasingly interconnected world. Lastly, like-minded nations need to be able to protect themselves and rapidly support each other in response and recovery when under large-scale attacks.

The G7 Hiroshima AI Process represents a relevant global initiative to ensure the safe, trustworthy, and responsible development of AI. At its core is the International Code of Conduct for Organizations Developing Advanced AI Systems, adopted in 2023. This framework is built on the OECD AI Principles, which emphasise fairness, accountability, and transparency, and aims to provide actionable guidelines for developers of advanced AI systems.
The Hiroshima Process is unique because it bridges voluntary commitments with practical measures to address risks and maximise benefits from AI technologies. It includes the development of guiding principles tailored for various AI actors and advanced AI systems, supporting global standards for responsible AI practices.

The TECH7 recognises this initiative as a cornerstone for fostering multilateral cooperation and addressing emerging challenges, such as generative AI risks and disinformation. Building on this momentum, we encourage further collaboration to ensure that these principles translate into tangible and evidenced outcomes, reinforcing ethical AI practices worldwide.
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