PARIS — At a Paris summit on Tuesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance cautioned global leaders and tech executives against enacting excessive AI regulations, warning that such measures could stifle innovation in the burgeoning field.
During his first international trip as vice president, Vance also emphasized the Trump administration’s commitment to ensuring that American-developed AI systems remain free from ideological bias and to upholding the right to free speech for all U.S. citizens.
“We are on the cusp of a new industrial revolution, comparable to the invention of the steam engine,” Vance stated. “However, this revolution will fail to materialize if excessive regulation discourages innovators from taking the necessary risks to drive progress.”
Vance’s remarks directly challenged Europe’s regulatory approach to artificial intelligence and its content moderation policies on major tech platforms, highlighting key differences in approach.
The summit brought together world leaders, leading tech executives, and policymakers to discuss the impact of AI on global security, economics, and governance.
A three-way race for AI dominance
The summit highlighted stark differences in approach: Europe prioritizes regulation and investment, China expands access through state-backed tech companies, and the U.S., under President Trump, advocates a less interventionist strategy.
The presence of Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing underscored Beijing’s keen interest in shaping global AI standards.
Vance, a vocal critic of European content moderation policies, has suggested that the U.S. might reconsider its NATO membership if European governments impose restrictions on platforms like X. His visit to Paris also included discussions on the war in Ukraine, AI’s geopolitical implications, and U.S.-China tensions.
How to regulate AI?
The summit grappled with concerns about AI’s potential dangers, particularly its increasing integration into defense and warfare. Nations are struggling to find effective regulatory frameworks for this technology.
“We will eventually need to find ways to control AI, or we risk losing control of everything,” warned Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO’s commander overseeing the alliance’s modernization efforts.
Beyond geopolitical considerations, a new global public-private partnership, “Current AI,” aims to support large-scale AI initiatives for the public good.
Analysts view this as a potential counterbalance to the dominance of private companies in AI development, although U.S. support for this initiative remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, a high-stakes battle for control of AI is intensifying in the private sector.
An investor group led by Elon Musk, now heading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, launched a $97.4 billion bid to acquire the nonprofit behind OpenAI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, present at the Paris summit, swiftly rejected the offer on X.
The US-China rivalry
In Beijing, officials condemned recent actions by the U.S., while the release of DeepSeek’s new AI chatbot in China prompted calls in the U.S. Congress for restrictions over security concerns. China advocates for open-source AI, asserting that accessibility will ensure global benefits.
French organizers hope the summit will stimulate investment in Europe’s AI sector, positioning it as a competitive player in a landscape dominated by U.S.-China competition.
French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the energy demands of AI, contrasted France’s nuclear energy approach with the U.S.’s reliance on fossil fuels, stating: France will not “drill, baby, drill,” but “plug, baby, plug.”
Vance’s diplomatic trip will continue in Germany, where he will participate in the Munich Security Conference, pressing European allies for greater NATO and Ukraine commitments. He may also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Talking Ukraine and Middle East with Macron
Vance will engage in discussions with Macron over a working lunch focusing on Ukraine and the Middle East.
Echoing Trump’s stance, Vance has questioned U.S. aid to Kyiv and the overall Western strategy towards Russia. Trump has pledged to end the Ukraine conflict within six months of taking office.
Vance is also scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.