In Paris on February 11, U.S. Vice President JD Vance voiced concerns to Europeans about the potential negative impact of their "massive" regulations on artificial intelligence, warning that such measures could stifle the technology's development. He also criticized content moderation as "authoritarian censorship."
During a French-hosted AI summit, the United States and Britain diverged from the final statement by emphasizing the importance of ensuring AI remains inclusive, open, ethically sound, and safe. The focus on AI has shifted from safety concerns to a competitive geopolitical landscape as countries seek to foster leading AI companies.
Vance underscored the U.S.'s commitment to maintaining its dominant position in AI, outlining an America First agenda and strongly opposing the European Union's more stringent regulatory stance. He highlighted the need for AI to remain free from bias and not be exploited for censorship.
The summit tackled various regulatory frameworks, including the EU's Digital Services Act and GDPR, with Vance pointing out the burdensome compliance costs these regulations impose on smaller businesses. He stressed the distinction between safeguarding online safety and preventing government-curated censorship.
European lawmakers passed the AI Act last year, marking the world's first comprehensive set of rules governing AI. Vance, leading the American delegation, left the summit promptly after his speech, meeting separately with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron for further discussions.
In an apparent reference to China's growing influence in the tech sector, Vance cautioned against partnerships that could compromise national autonomy. He didn't mention DeepSeek specifically, a Chinese AI company that raised concerns about information security.
Macron and von der Leyen supported the need for trustworthy AI and streamlined bureaucratic processes within the EU. The U.S. and Britain did not immediately sign the AI Summit's declaration, citing concerns over language and regulatory approaches. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing expressed China's willingness to collaborate on AI development while emphasizing security and mutual progress.
Observers noted the noticeable shift in U.S. policy toward AI innovation and opportunity under Vance's leadership, away from a primary focus on safety and regulation. Russell Wald from Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence highlighted the change in the U.S.'s approach.
Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, a competitor of OpenAI, expressed disappointment in the summit's failure to address supply chain controls, security risks in AI, and expected disruptions to the job market.