Quad pledges USD 85 million to expand trusted AI access in Indo-Pacific

Foreign ministers of the Quad grouping on Saturday said they intended to provide more than USD 85 million in technical and financial assistance to expand access to trusted artificial intelligence across the Indo-Pacific, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The United States also committed USD 10 million for recycling critical minerals in India and ASEAN countries. The ministers announced the first Quad Business Leaders' Forum to strengthen ties between the public and private sectors and promote commercial deals in key sectors.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta.

“The Quad ministers highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence and initiatives like Pax Silica to the future of economic growth and expressed their intent to provide over USD 85 million of technical and financial assistance to support access to trusted AI across the Indo-Pacific, including through the Quad AI Accelerator,” a joint statement issued after the meeting said, according to PTI.

The Quad's export credit agencies will meet in Tokyo on November 18 to identify opportunities for practical cooperation, reflecting the grouping's commitment to deeper economic cooperation.

This was the third meeting of Quad foreign ministers this year. The ministers had earlier met in New Delhi in May and Manila in July.

Efforts are also under way to convene a Quad Leaders' Summit, hosted by US President Donald Trump, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-East Asia Summits in mid-November.

“As our nations continue building reliable and open supply chains, supporting next-generation technologies, increasing maritime cooperation, and securing critical minerals, the United States, Australia, India, and Japan are delivering results for our people and the nations in the region,” Rubio said, as quoted by PTI.

The meeting focused on expanding access to trusted AI, strengthening critical mineral supply chains and increasing economic and maritime cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.