US Vice President JD Vance has cautioned European allies against imposing excessive regulations on the US-led artificial intelligence (AI) sector and urged China not to use the technology to consolidate its control over power. His remarks, delivered to global leaders in Paris during a two-day AI summit, disrupted the unity that France had hoped to showcase at the event.
While dozens of nations signed a statement advocating for regulation that ensures AI is “open” and “ethical,” the United States and Britain—no longer an EU member—opted not to endorse the communiqué.
“Excessive regulation could stifle a transformative industry just as it’s beginning to thrive,” Vance told world leaders and tech executives at the Grand Palais, urging Europe to adopt a more optimistic approach rather than one rooted in fear.
Earlier, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for “collective, global efforts” to establish governance and standards that reflect shared values, mitigate risks, and build trust. Modi co-hosted the summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, who will oversee the next meeting aimed at advancing global AI rules.
Responding after Vance, Macron emphasized that global regulations are key to AI’s success and longevity, suggesting a different approach from the US Vice President’s stance.
Among the 60 countries that signed the communique were China, France, Germany, and India, who collectively prioritized making AI “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy” within international frameworks. The agreement also emphasized the need for AI to be “sustainable for people and the planet.”
The number of signatories was later reduced when the French presidency removed Montenegro and an erroneous duplicate listing of Sweden. Neither the US nor the UK signed, and there were no signs that key industry players like OpenAI’s Sam Altman would join in either.
A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer explained that the UK would only support initiatives that align with its national interests. Meanwhile, Dario Amodei, CEO of AI developer Anthropic, criticized the summit, describing it as a “missed opportunity” to ensure that democratic nations take charge of AI, address potential safety risks, and prepare for its social and economic challenges.
