French-led coalition launches ‘Current AI’ to make AI that serves the public interest

The rapid development of artificial intelligence has sparked concerns about equitable access and public benefit. In response, a coalition of governments, tech companies, and philanthropic organizations has launched Current AI, a $400 million initiative aimed at developing AI technologies that serve the public interest.

The big picture: The French government-led partnership, announced at the AI Action Summit in Paris, aims to raise $2.5 billion over five years to reshape the AI landscape with a focus on public benefit.

• Initial partners include Google, MacArthur Foundation, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and Salesforce
• Ten governments, including Chile, Finland, Germany, and Nigeria, have committed to supporting the partnership
• A group of 11 industry leaders, including executives from LinkedIn, Hugging Face, Mistral, and Instacart, have signed an open letter backing the initiative

Core objectives: Current AI will focus on three main pillars: expanding access to quality datasets, promoting open-source development, and establishing accountability frameworks.

• The initiative will prioritize access to locally relevant datasets in healthcare, education, and media
• Investment in open-source tools and infrastructure aims to improve AI transparency and security
• Development of systems to measure AI’s social and environmental impact will be a key focus

Strategic focus areas: The partnership will target specific sectors where AI can create meaningful public impact while addressing critical technological challenges.

• Healthcare applications will be a primary focus for development and implementation
• Linguistic diversity initiatives aim to make AI more inclusive across different languages and cultures
• Scientific research and development will receive dedicated resources
• Trust, safety, and AI auditing frameworks will be established to ensure responsible development

Leadership perspectives: Key figures have emphasized the urgency and significance of this public interest initiative.

• Martin Tisné, Current AI’s founder, highlighted the critical window to shape AI’s future for better access to jobs, healthcare, and education
• French President Emmanuel Macron endorsed the initiative’s potential to develop European AI ecosystems and foster global innovation
• The partnership will collaborate with organizations like the AI for Development Funders Collaborative to advance equitable AI development

Looking ahead: While Current AI’s $400 million initial investment represents a significant commitment to public interest AI development, the success of this initiative will largely depend on achieving its ambitious $2.5 billion funding goal and effectively coordinating diverse stakeholders across government, industry, and philanthropy. The partnership’s focus on open-source development and accountability frameworks could set important precedents for how AI technology is developed and deployed in the public interest.